Chelsea have become a shell of themselves as a Premier League side, and have left former players of the club worried about what the future holds.
A run of six consecutive league defeats has ended their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season, throwing them in a precarious financial position with UEFA.
The Blues were sanctioned last summer and had to balance the books to stay onside with their rules, creating a worrying prospect that they will not be able to sign big names this summer.
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Former Chelsea players don’t recognise the club anymore, according to John Obi Mikel
John Obi Mikel is furious with the owners of the club, echoing the sentiment of supporters who are planning to protest ahead of the FA Cup final with Manchester City.
These types of occasions are ones the former players would have relished, but Mikel told the Obi One podcast that he and his former teammates are at a point where they don’t recognise the club from the one they played for.
Chelsea v Nottingham Forest - Premier League
Photo by Harriet Lander – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
He said: “I don’t know my team anymore, honestly. It’s a worrying time for us. It’s a team that, as a Chelsea fan, you don’t recognise anymore. As ex-players, we don’t recognise it anymore.”
A number of the big names at Stamford Bridge have simply not turned up this season, with Chelsea’s win rate with Cole Palmer in the squad alarmingly low.
The standards have slipped to a point where the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba would not have allowed it to, although there is a hesitance to bring those figures back to the club.
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Chelsea give cold shoulder to John Terry
The Chelsea dressing room have craved for Terry’s influence over them in the wake of Liam Rosenior’s departure, with the last four permanent managers having no real connection to the club.
Despite this, Chelsea have told Terry he is not wanted amongst the first team staff, even during a time period where Calum McFarlane is in charge.
Ashley Cole wanted to bring his former teammate with him to Cesena, although this didn’t end up coming to anything.
The club are determined to continue to go in their own direction, much to the bewilderment of the likes of Mikel and other Chelsea legends.
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