Chelsea players looked dejected after defeat to Roma
By: Ugochukwu Ubah
English Premier League Champions, Chelsea, have raised concerns for their fans and club management following their recent poor run of form under Manager Antonio Conte with their latest 3-0 Champions League drubbing at AS Roma after another error-laden display.
Stephan El Shaarawy scored two and Diego Perotti bagged a third to put the game beyond visitors who were as bad as I’ve ever seen them play under the Italian manager.
While the result might not be too costly in the competition, it is not the first time the defending Premier League champions have failed to perform this season. One wonders what Roman Abramovich will be thinking as he watched this debacle. There are already questions over Conte’s future and this performance is unlikely to lighten his Russian employer’s mood.
In their last seven games, the Blues have lost 3 times, drawn 1 and won just 3, which makes it their worst run under the Italian. But what has gone wrong at Stamford Bridge?
There have been suggestions that some players have been unhappy with Conte’s training methods this season as Chelsea look to balance the Premier League and Champions League.
The departure of Namanja Matic to bitter rivals, Manchester United, has drawn stern criticisms to the club (Chelsea) transfer policy. Soccer pundit and former Manchester United defender, Phil Neville, pinpointed the sale of Matic as a major reason behind Chelsea’s poor run
“What’s gone wrong for Chelsea? One word. Matic,” Neville told BBC. “The minute they sold Nemanja Matic was a mistake. When you had Matic sat in front of you, alongside Kante, there was protection. Whoever made that decision needs sacking. That is one of the poorest decisions I have ever seen in the Premier League.”
The absence of N’Golo Kante have seen the London side pair Cesc Fabregas and Bakayoko at the base of their midfield but the duo are not as strong as the injured Kante to provide defensive shield for the backline. The unfit Danny Drinkwater who joined the Blues from Leicester last summer is yet to impose himself at the North London Club.
The Blues still lack a defensive leader in John Terry’s like. Attacking wise, Diego Costa seemed to have left big boots for Alvaro Morata to fill and the club hasn’t done well to get a perfect replacement.
AS Roma exploited Chelsea’s weaknesses with a solid display. Defensively, Chelsea backline was a total dog’s dinner. Their midfielders couldn’t hold on to the ball and their forwards were fairly toothless. Conte has plenty to think about ahead of the weekend’s Premier League match against Manchester United.
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