Chelsea fans have been hoping for a quick turnaround with the appointment of Pochettino as their manager, but the club’s issues run deeper than that.

 

It’s been nearly two years since Chelsea’s dominant performances in the domestic league, and since then, it’s been a story of ups and downs. But who bears the responsibility for this period of mediocrity and stagnation?

Thomas Tuchel and Former Chelsea Leadership Blaming Chelsea’s current struggles on individuals who were part of the club over a year ago might seem excessive, but the decline in form since Christmas 2021 demands scrutiny.

While many Chelsea fans would welcome Tuchel back with open arms, he isn’t immune to criticism. One of his major shortcomings during his tenure was his inability to extract the best performances from several high-priced and highly-rated attacking players, including Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Christian Pulisic, and Romelu Lukaku.

 

Club Co-Owners Chelsea’s co-owners, Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, have undoubtedly introduced an element of chaos since taking over the club in May 2022. Chelsea’s current struggles can be partly attributed to billionaire Roman Abramovich’s forced divestment of valuable assets following the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Subsequent questionable leadership decisions, such as Boehly appointing himself sporting director last summer and overspending on signings like Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella, have further complicated matters.

 

Sports Directors The arrivals of Paul Winstanley and Lawrence Stewart last season generated anticipation that Chelsea would mitigate their transfer risks, with Winstanley joining from Brighton’s esteemed squad.

However, things didn’t go as smoothly as expected. Chelsea was accused of adopting a reckless transfer strategy in the January window, with Winstanley and Stewart playing an active role. They spent over £367 million ($367 million) on eight new players, including £89 million ($109 million) for Mykhailo Mudryk, who has yet to prove his worth, and £107 million ($131 million) for Enzo Fernandez.

Graham Potter It’s challenging to pinpoint the exact mistakes Potter made during his unsuccessful tenure at Chelsea, but he struggled to earn the trust of the club’s fans.

 

With Chelsea fans accustomed to the fierce and competitive styles of coaches like Tuchel, Jose Mourinho, and Antonio Conte, Potter’s more lenient approach did not sit well with the supporters.

Frank Lampard The reappointment of club legend Lampard, who was sacked by relegation-threatened Everton in January after failing to secure a league win since October 2022, is a significant point of contention among Chelsea’s loyal fans.

Medical Team Injuries to key players over the past year have disrupted the club’s progress, affecting both coaching and recruitment efforts at Stamford Bridge.

 

Throughout the 2022-2023 season, Chelsea had to cope without key players like Reece James, N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount, and Wesley Fofana. This led to a restructuring of the medical department, with the removal of the medical director and chief medical officer from their roles.

Mauricio Pochettino Although it’s still early days for Pochettino, he cannot escape criticism, even though he inherited many of Chelsea’s longstanding issues.

 

While his Chelsea tenure saw improvements in various statistical aspects, his player selection and tactical system have raised questions.

Players When three highly-regarded managers all struggle with the same squad within 12 months, it’s evident that there are deep-rooted issues at the club extending beyond them.

 

The group of players highly compensated by Chelsea shares a significant portion of the blame for the club’s recent problems. Nearly everyone in the squad has underperformed for an extended period, and by the end of the 2022-2023 season, Chelsea’s quality levels were reported to have hit a record low, with little competitive edge left.