Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Ruud Gullit’s former club Chelsea were humiliated on Friday, losing 3-0 to west London rivals Brentford.
Before the game, Gullit made a very bold claim about the Blues, who have made an underwhelming start to the campaign. Their first two games went to plan after they beat Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion.
However, since then, it has been downhill. After Brighton, they lost 2-1 to Arsenal before drawing 2-2 with Hull City at home. They have now dropped more points against Brentford.
Ruud Gullit thinks Chelsea can win title
Whether he still thinks the same after Chelsea’s loss to Brentford remains to be seen, but before the match, Gullit had not ruled out his former side from the title race.
In an interview posted by Si Phillips Talks Chelsea, the Netherlands legend said: “Can they win the title this year under [Xabi] Alonso? You know, it could happen but it’s about sustainability. That is the most difficult part. It’s very difficult.”
Chelsea are already eight points behind Manchester City, which will really annoy Blues fans. Many are not happy with the manner in which Enzo Maresca and Enzo Fernandez left the club to join their Premier League rivals.
But looking at where City are compared to Chelsea, Maresca and Fernandez will have no regrets. Fernandez even managed to grab his first goal for City on Sunday after scoring against Sunderland.
Having failed to bring in a replacement for him, Chelsea selling Fernandez looks like a horrendous decision.
No chance of Chelsea winning title
Again, Chelsea are already eight points behind first place. Finishing above both City and Arsenal in the same season is impossible, at least during this campaign.
Chelsea cannot compete with either side for an entire year. Drawing at home to Hull and losing 3-0 to Brentford proves that.
Chelsea’s structure, among many other things, needs to be fixed. Until that happens, this is a team who will not finish higher than fourth in the table. Gullit is dreaming right now, but after the Brentford defeat, he has probably changed his mind.