Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior took shots at his players’ professionalism and attitude in a potential season-ending 3-0 loss to Brighton on Tuesday.
The chaotic post-match interview with Sky Sports underlined the mounting pressure on Rosenior’s shoulders, and the growing disconnect between the players, management and ownership.
With ‘BlueCo Out’ flags waved in the crowd, Chelsea’s porous form and the manager’s implication that his players have downed tools, it’s safe to conclude the season has gone from bad to worse, to absolutely irreparable.
Chelsea’s lowest point of the season
Rosenior was asked whether the result and performance against the Seagulls was the season’s lowest point.
“By far. By far. Was unacceptable in every aspect of the game,” he said. “I keep coming out and defending the players, that was indefensible, that performance.
“The manner of the goals we conceded, the duels that we lost. Something has to change drastically right here, right now.”
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‘Self-reflection’ needed says Rosenior
Asked why the result happened, the Chelsea boss responded: “Why? We need to look in the mirror. I need to look in the mirror.
“But I can’t keep coming out here and defending some of the things that we’re seeing. Manchester United, genuinely the result wasn’t there but I felt we turned a corner.
“But the general attitude, spirit was lacking – determination from three or four of the starting 11.
“That’s nowhere near enough for this club. I can’t come out and lie. I tell the truth. That was an unacceptable performance at every level.”
Rosenior: ‘The performance lacked professionalism’
“You can speak about a lack of confidence, or results not going our way,” Rosenior continued.
“That doesn’t represent anything that I want to see, and I won’t ever see it again.
“The performance in terms of professionalism wasn’t there. It was a really difficult night, the most difficult night – not even here at this magnificent football club – but in my career.
“Some of the things I witnessed today, I don’t want to ever see again.”
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Players downing tools?
“You have to ask the players,” Rosenior added when asked if his players gave up.
“If you’re playing at this elite football club, or any football club, to be even accused of throwing the towel in is unacceptable.
“That’s all I’m going to say. I’m hurting, I’m feeling numb. That doesn’t represent me. That doesn’t represent the football club in any way.
“That has to change, starting with the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.”
A shambolic end to the season
The Blues have failed to score in their last five Premier League matches, and have lost seven out of their last eight games in all competitions.
Their most recent win came against Port Vale in the FA Cup. Aside from that, Rosenior’s side only scored in a 5-2 drubbing at the hands of PSG in the Champions League Round of 16.
Pride is but only a consolation to salvage against Leeds on Saturday in an otherwise dire season.
SportJustSport writers 
Liberty Nicholson-Hulse