A worrying trend has emerged at Cobham as a recurring flaw in Liam Rosenior’s first-team setup appears to have trickled down to the Chelsea academy, leaving the Under-21s vulnerable.
Defeat to Burnley was a huge disappointment, but it’s part of a wider picture at Chelsea.
A recurring theme has been the number of second-half goals conceded since Liam Rosenior was appointed, especially from winning positions.
Nine out of the 15 goals conceded by the Blues have come in the second half of games, including the two from Leeds United that cost three points.
It’s a trend that even seems to be haunting the Chelsea Under-21 side of late.
Who starts in place of Wesley Fofana against Arsenal?🤔
Wesley Fofana's replacement after Chelsea red card
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Chelsea Under-21s see worrying trend emerge
The Chelsea Under-21 side have conceded 11 of their 15 goals in the second half of matches since Liam Rosenior was appointed at Stamford Bridge.
This includes throwing away a two-goal lead against Leeds United last time out, exactly like the first team did. They also squandered a two-goal lead against Real Sociedad, with all of those goals coming in the second half of the match, too.
It contributed to five points being dropped over two games.
Now, we aren’t saying it’s down to Rosenior totally, but it’s a worrying trend that seems to be visible right the way through the systems.
It’s getting ridiculous now 😡
How can Liam Rosenior stop this?
Wesley Fofana sent off for Chelsea vs Burnley
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What needs to be done to fix this?
To fix the recurring second-half curse plaguing both Liam Rosenior’s senior squad and the Chelsea Under-21s, the club must address its psychological fragility.
While tactical adjustments like refreshing the midfield are vital, the mindset of the players remains the biggest hurdle. Opponents, like Burnley’s Zian Flemming, now openly admit that they no longer fear the Stamford Bridge atmosphere, feeling “disappointed” to leave with only a single point.
Players are currently displaying a reactive, anxious mentality once a goal is conceded, leading to a league-high 19 points dropped from winning positions. To restore dominance, Chelsea must shift from a survival mindset to one of game-state management.
This brings back the point of a lack of experience in the side, especially with Marc Cucurella missing.
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