Chelsea have taken only five points from their opening six Premier League games this season – their worst start to a campaign since 1978.
Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Aston Villa leaves them in 14th and extended their winless run to three games.
Here the PA news agency looks at the reasons behind the west London club’s performance problems.
Is Mauricio Pochettino the right man?
Pochettino’s youthful Chelsea squad have experienced teething problems, with their only league win coming with a 3-0 victory over newly-promoted Luton. Their forwards have been wasteful in front of goal, with striker Nicolas Jackson missing seven big chances in six games with just a single goal to show for it. The Blues have shown signs of promise at times but individual errors and questionable changes to the formation will mount pressure on Pochettino, who is expected to perform after Chelsea’s £1 billion-plus transfer spree since May 2022.
How does Pochettino compare to other Chelsea managers?
Pochettino has struggled to improve a Chelsea slump that started under Graham Potter and continued during Frank Lampard’s woeful temporary return. In Pochettino’s first six Premier League games the Blues have scored only five goals, winning once and losing three times. That is slightly better than Lampard’s second spell at the helm, which saw the Blues score seven goals and take four points in their first six games before finishing 12th. Potter managed nine goals and 11 points in his first six games, while Thomas Tuchel – who won three trophies during his Stamford Bridge tenure – picked up 14 points in his first half a dozen Premier League fixtures. With a lack of goals holding Pochettino’s side back, the 51-year-old will hope that an increase in chances taken can turn the tide.
What about all the money they spent?
Todd Boehly’s Clearlake Capital consortium forked out over £450 million on transfers this summer and have broken the British transfer record twice since January to land midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo. Caicedo has had a mixed start at Stamford Bridge after his £115 million move from Brighton. The Ecuador midfielder had a poor cameo on his debut against West Ham before he gave the ball away for Anthony Elanga’s second-half winner against Forest. Jackson is yet to live to up to his exciting first two games in blue and has missed golden chances which have cost Pochettino’s side. Fernandez, however, is the shining light in Chelsea’s midfield and has shown his quality on the ball.
Are injuries to blame?
Chelsea had 12 players missing through injury for last week’s 0-0 draw at Bournemouth, forcing Pochettino to rotate once again. Christopher Nkunku and Romeo Lavia are yet to make their debuts for the club due to being sidelined and the exciting Carney Chukwuemeka’s knee injury at West Ham was more serious than what was first hoped. Suspensions picked up by Nicolas Jackson and Malo Gusto will add further problems for Pochettino when they face Fulham.
What’s next for Chelsea?
After hosting Brighton in the Carabao Cup and a west London derby at Craven Cottage, the Blues face a tough run that includes Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle in their next eight league games. They will need to find an upturn in form if they do no not want to slip further out of the race for European qualification for a second successive season.
I don’t know what to say – Sarina Wiegman stunned by Nations League finale
Sarina Wiegman was left almost speechless with disappointment after England’s 6-0 win over Scotland was still not enough to make the Nations League knockout stages as Team GB’s hopes of reaching next summer’s Olympic Games also ended.
Pedro Martinez Losa’s side, already relegated from League A1, were swept aside at Hampden Park but the Netherlands’ 4-0 win over Belgium saw them top the group.
Defender Alex Greenwood headed the opener after 12 minutes and two goals in a minute by Lauren James and another by Beth Mead just before the break had the game over by half-time.
Striker Fran Kirby added a fifth with Lucy Bronze heading in what looked a crucial final goal in the third minute of added time – but Damaris Egurrola’s late brace for the Netherlands meant they pipped Wiegman’s side on goal difference.
Wiegman, whose side was the nominated nation on behalf of Team GB for Paris next year and needed to win the group, was on the Hampden pitch with her players after the game when the Dutch, whom they beat 3-2 on Friday, scored their crucial fourth.
She said: “Of course I am very very disappointed. That’s the biggest emotion I have now.
“We delivered tonight and we delivered this December camp, the team showed lots of character, in this game too and we started the game really well, scored four goals in the first half.
“When Lucy scored I said to the players that we are going to get this.
“Netherlands scored in the late seconds and that’s how close it was.
“We were waiting, long minutes but we really thought we got it and then we didn’t make it I said I actually don’t know what to say.
“I am really proud of the performance and what we did this whole week but it was not enough and it is really disappointing and you don’t really have to say anything more.
“If you don’t get through in goal difference then it is just not enough, that’s the facts. But that’s football.”
Martinez Losa was similarly taken aback by what he had witnessed but for different reasons.
He said: “We have to apologise to the fans, this was not what they expected.
“We lost concentration in the first half after we conceded the first goal, we were out of the game at half-time.
“I will never be embarrassed about the team, about the players, but it was not the performance we were expecting for our fans.
“England were at a good level and took advantage of their good moments.
“One of the consequences of the result is because we wanted to win the game. We pressed England high as well as they did. Some moments we were doing things well.
“After the four goals it was difficult for our players to come back.
“I considered [making first-half subs] but didn’t do it because in the end, the responsibility of the team is with myself. I respect the team, I understand for the players that it is a big occasion and I wanted to wait until half-time.”
Billy Heath still hoping Alfreton can make FA Cup third round after Walsall draw
Alfreton boss Billy Heath believes his players can still become the first in the club’s history to reach the FA Cup third round.
The Derbyshire part-timers fought out a 0-0 home draw with League Two Walsall, with Heath arguing that his outfit were the better team against a side that ply their trade two divisions higher.
He went on to admit that a replay in the Midlands represents a tougher proposition, but feels that his “magnificent” side remain capable of progressing with Championship Southampton awaiting the victors at St Mary’s.
“It was a close game and both teams had chances, but I thought we edged it,” Heath said.
“We had a bit more goalmouth action and our two chances were the most clear-cut opportunities to score, so we are disappointed with that, but the players were magnificent and we really gave as good as we got.
“We’ve also got to remind ourselves that some of our players were at work today and some were stuck in traffic and nearly didn’t get here, so it’s fantastic what they have achieved tonight.
“Hopefully they will get more credit than we get in the league now, because we have some really good individuals with great character.
“They have shown that in this tie and we are still in it, which is the main thing. It will be even more difficult at their place but we won’t be going there to go out with a whimper and still think we can win the tie.”
Walsall boss Mat Sadler was subjected to chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” by unimpressed away fans, who have seen their team win just once in nine contests – against Isthmian League minnows Sheppey United in the previous round.
The Saddlers have also failed to net in three successive matches, but an under-pressure Sadler declared that he was pleased with the manner in which his team did not buckle in the face of repeated long throws into their box from home midfielder Adam Lund.
“You have to respect whatever the supporters are saying, but we have had a tough spell with injuries and I’m pleased with how incredibly hard the team we put out worked tonight,” Sadler insisted.
“We had some good moments and controlled long parts of the game, so there were plenty of positives but we didn’t quite have that bit at the end, which is not happening for us at the moment.
“It will come and sometimes you just need a goal to go off somebody’s backside, earlobe or whatever. But we also showed great resilience to deal with their long throw, which is a hell of a weapon.
“Fair play to them – they use it well and use it from everywhere, but we stood up to that and it was a very competitive cup tie.”
Stuart Kettlewell says sorry to Motherwell fans after Ross County loss
Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell expressed his “shame” after a 3-0 defeat against former club Ross County.
Kettlewell held his hands up in apology to the 94 travelling fans who braved the wintry conditions to witness their side go 12 cinch Premiership games without a victory.
Simon Murray headed County in front from a corner inside two minutes as Well lost the first goal for the 11th time in their barren run.
Yan Dhanda curled home from 22 yards inside 18 minutes and Ben Purrington knocked home a rebound in the second half as a static Motherwell defence was beaten again.
Kettlewell, who saw Calum Butcher and Dan Casey pick up injuries, the latter a serious one, said: “Everyone knows how difficult that road can be in winter and how far away it is and we had a group of fans who came up here to support the team in the hope we’d put on a performance, and it was miles away from what it has to be when people spend that cash and time to come up here.
“And there’s a bit of shame in that when you see people travelling up here and that’s the level they get.
“I feel very, very sorry for the supporters that came here because, having seen it, the better decision would be to stay in the house.
“The level of performance was so far removed from where it needs to be to be competitive in this league.
“Then add in the injuries to Butcher and Casey, when you piece all that together along with the troubles and difficult run we’re on, that makes it the toughest ever game for me to watch.”
Motherwell have only collected four points out of a possible 36.
Kettlewell said: “You have to scrap and fight your way out of it and I didn’t see an awful lot of that in the first 45 minutes in particular. You can see the dent it has conceding that early goal.
“So much of it becomes that mentality, a little bit of fear coming in and people maybe not looking for the ball.
“You have to have belief in yourself, envisage there’s a way out of it and trust in the guys around about you to make sure that happens.
“My greatest frustration is I’m dealing with a group of players who have shown that in spade loads during my time at the club and for whatever reason at this minute in time it’s coming up seriously short.”
Casey was carried off on a stretcher after the final whistle.
“It looks a real bad one,” Kettlewell said.
“He has a brace in his leg and it looks like he is heading to hospital. I think he said he felt some sort of crack in his leg.”
County made it seven points and three clean sheets from three matches since Derek Adams returned as manager.
Adams, who saw Will Nightingale sent off in stoppage time, said: “The confidence is there – we played on the front foot – and I thought defensively we were good.
“We stepped forward with the ball and created some really good movements in the game. We were unfortunate not to score more.”
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