The Blues have lost seven of their opening twelve games in defence of their Premier League title, and are all but out with even a chance of defending it.
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Oct 3: Chelsea 1-3 Southampton: Jose accuses referee of being “afraid” to give his team decisions; FA responds with a £50k fine and a suspended one-game stadium ban.
Chelsea’s struggles continued as Marko Arnautovic’s second-half volley earned Stoke City a 1-0 victory on Saturday Night Football.
Chelsea’s third straight league defeat – its seventh in 12 matches – placed the preseason favorite 16th in the standings, just three points above the previously unthinkable relegation zone.
The Chelsea boss spoke with the club owner after the midweek Champions League win over Dynamo Kiev.
He was back at the team hotel during the televised Stoke contest, surely tuning in, despite his pre-match suggestions he might not.
Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma has dismissed suggestions manager Jose Mourinho no longer has the backing of his players as their dismal run of form continues.
Speaking to Sky Sports’ Goals on Sunday, Gullit said: “In the past, when a Mourinho team won, it was Mourinho who won, and when a Mourinho team lost, it was Mourinho who lost”. Plus, Abramovich reportedly supported keeping Mourinho as the manager last month, but has the most recent stint of losses changed his mind? I think we could have won that match.
Eden Hazard, Oscar and Nemanja Matic are among the more disillusioned Blues players while sources say the dressing room has badly missed the influence of departed senior players such as Didier Drogba, Petr Cech and Frank Lampard. “You can see that from our performances”, said Begovic, when asked about Mourinho’s future.
A potential, further headache for the Chelsea manager before the Norwich game is a ban for Diego Costa after the striker was accused by a Stoke steward of treading on his foot as he went to retrieve the ball for a Chelsea corner in the 73rd minute of Saturday’s fixture.
Who do you think Chelsea should sell?
A few of us might have wondered whether José Mourinho’s absence influenced Chelsea’s last game negatively, as the manager on the sidelines would probably be more efficient in providing instructions for his players on the pitch than his three roaming assistant managers.
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This was Arnautovic’s first goal at the Britannia Stadium since May of past year, against now-Championship side Fulham.
