Chelsea were hapless to prevent a fifth straight Premier League defeat on Tuesday as Liam Rosenior’s side were easily beaten by Brighton – and Enzo Fernandez made a “statement” after full-time.
After suffering four losses in a row against Newcastle, Everton, Man City and Man United, Rosenior was tasked with taking his injury-hit, stuttering Chelsea side to Brighton on Tuesday: Rosenior’s old club.
The Chelsea manager played more than 50 times for Brighton, and entered the world of coaching with the Seagulls. Indeed, Brighton fans paid tribute to Rosenior during the game, as Brighton secured a win.
Chelsea fans, if Liam Rosenior was sacked before the FA Cup semi-final, who would you want to see in charge?
Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea - Premier League
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Ferdi Kadioglu’s third-minute strike sent Brighton on their way, before Jack Hinshelwood and substitute Danny Welbeck got in on the act. Chelsea fans were rightly angry, but Enzo Fernandez reacted strangely.
Fernandez seen ‘staring into the abyss’ after full-time
Not one Chelsea player can openly say they played well last night. Even Robert Sanchez made some superb saves, but was guilty of a clanger or two as well. Fernandez hardly got involved throughout.
The World Cup winner started his second game for Chelsea since serving a two-game ban for flirting with Real Madrid during the most-recent break. Yet, even with Fernandez playing, Chelsea never had a hope.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea - Premier League
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Amid the rumours that Fernandez will leave in the summer, the midfielder was seen staring into the away end at full-time while wearing the captain’s armband. He was the last to leave the pitch at The Amex.
Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones reports: “Not sure what Enzo Fernandez is playing at, heading over to the away end and just standing there, staring into the abyss. He is the last one to leave the pitch. Was that some kind of statement?”
Rosenior was a man possessed in his post-match interviews
Having previously attempted to be calm and collected in press conferences – and in some people’s eyes, he failed even that – Rosenior was brutally honest after the defeat. He described it as “indefensible”.
DEBATE: Who is the worst Chelsea manager of all-time? Is it Liam Rosenior?🤔
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The Chelsea manager told his players to “look in the mirror”, and even suggested three or four of his starting players did not show the required determination to put in a display worthy of beating Brighton.
Perhaps, it was the words of a manager that knew the inevitable was coming. Chelsea’s fans did not hold back their criticism of himself and Behdad Eghbali during the game. The noise may be too loud to ignore.
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