After suffering back-to-back defeats, Chelsea’s team morale has taken a significant hit, with concerns arising about certain players’ conduct. The 4-2 loss to Wolves at home and conceding four goals against Liverpool led to the west Londoners plummeting to 11th place in the Premier League standings. Currently, they trail 15 points behind Aston Villa, occupying the crucial fourth position for the Champions League.
Mauricio Pochettino, the team’s coach, is facing mounting pressure. However, financial constraints reportedly hinder Chelsea from terminating his contract due to their extravagant spending over the past 18 months. Thiago Silva’s wife, Belle, took to Twitter suggesting Pochettino’s dismissal even before the Wolves game concluded. The club’s recruitment strategies are also facing scrutiny.
According to the Daily Mail, the squad’s morale is at its lowest since Pochettino assumed leadership, creating an unsettling atmosphere at the camp. A reported culture at Cobham encourages players to leave immediately after training, in contrast to the norm of socializing at training facilities. This lack of cohesiveness is exacerbated by squad members rarely staying for extra tasks.
Concerns extend to the players’ ability to comprehend and utilize analytical data, as some struggle with negative criticism. The emphasis on recruiting young, promising players has led to inexperience being a contributing factor. Players accustomed to specific tactical frameworks find it challenging to adapt to new acquisitions’ different tactics and playing styles.
In response to the Wolves defeat, Pochettino admitted that everyone, including himself, falls short of expectations. Acknowledging accountability, he stressed the need for players to take responsibility and recognized the team’s failure to uphold the club’s heritage. Pochettino expressed a commitment to critical evaluation, resilience, and the necessity for change, potentially hinting at reevaluating strategies and perspectives to turn the team’s fortunes around.
