Chelsea fans probably need to look at reality more calmly. Compared to Tottenham Hotspur - a team struggling with the risk of relegation - their situation is not the worst. But the lackluster performance against Brighton pushed Chelsea down to one of the darkest periods in modern history.
The defeat at Amex is just the tip of the iceberg. A streak of 5 consecutive defeats in the Premier League without scoring a single goal almost ended hopes for the top 5. That was the collapse right at the most important moment of the season for The Blues.
The decline under Liam Rosenior - who was just sacked - coincided with a wave of strong opposition from fans aimed at the leadership. Trust is running out and in general, the problem is no longer short-term result, but long-term trust.
Since Todd Boehly and BlueCo Group took over, Chelsea has spent up to 1.87 billion pounds. But instead of competing for titles, they are still struggling to find a spot in European cups.
The strategy of investing in young talents has become a double-edged sword. More than 1 billion pounds have been poured into players under 24 years old - a risky gamble but not suitable for the harsh reality of top football.
Among the 52 contracts, only a few names like Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Marc Cucurella or Cole Palmer really prove their value. The low success rate makes the entire scouting apparatus questioned.
Not only that, expensive deals like Wesley Fofana or Romeo Lavia continuously suffer injuries, raising suspicions about the medical examination process. The consequence is a bulky, unbalanced squad, making coaches unable to control it. This is what coach Enzo Maresca publicly criticized.
According to reports, Chelsea lost up to 689 million pounds in 3 years - equivalent to nearly 700,000 pounds per day. Meanwhile, commercial revenue lags behind major rivals.
BlueCo once criticized the way it operated under Roman Abramovich, but now they are facing similar problems, even more serious.
Not only system issues, the team's internal affairs are also chaotic. Enzo Fernandez was disciplined for making statements related to Real Madrid, and Marc Cucurella publicly questioned the club's direction. Actions such as team formation leaks or attitudes of lack of commitment after the match further tarnished the team's image.
The appointment of Rosenior from the beginning caused controversy. A young, inexperienced coach was pushed into the most stressful environment. Although the start was not bad, when the crisis came, his inexperience was revealed: inconsistent tactics, declining team spirit and question marks about the control of the dressing room.
The dismissal of Rosenior after only a few months was an inevitable consequence, but did not solve the core problem.
Although both players and coaches are responsible, the root cause is still at the top level. BlueCo's prolonged wrong decisions have pushed Chelsea into a spiral of crisis.
The project once expected to become a new model of modern football is now facing the risk of collapse. And if it does not change radically, Stamford Bridge may witness even more changes in the near future.
