Chelsea lost two crucial points in a 1-1 draw with Burnley at Stamford Bridge. The Blues took an early lead and should have extended their lead, but failed.
Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana received a second yellow card and was sent off as the 10-man side in west London scrambled to hold on to their lead.
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The Club World Cup champions conceded in the final embers and dropped two points for the second consecutive Premier League matchweek.
While the players have been criticized for poor performances, manager Liam Rognior should also be criticized for some poor decisions, the most puzzling of which was starting Marlo Gusteau at left-back.
Chelsea missed Marc Cucurella down the left wing and Gusteau looked lifeless.
His savage disregard of a pass attempt in the 68th as Chelsea chased a crucial second goal was inexcusable.
Football London gave Gusteau a 5/10 rating (second from bottom), admitting he was “wasteful in attacking positions”.
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Jorrel Hato has clearly found his feet in recent weeks and is the better option, but Ronniol’s decision-making fails.
Hutto came in and won two-thirds of his duels, which was a huge improvement over Gusto, who only won 2/5.
The Blues might have performed better had the Dutchman been on the pitch.
These results can quietly ruin the season.
Taken individually, a draw against Burnley might not seem disastrous, but with the top four games crowded, it could prove costly.
Dropping points in consecutive game weeks, especially in winning positions, raises serious questions about Chelsea’s mentality and game management.
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The Premier League schedule doesn’t get better from here.
A tougher test is yet to come, and if the Blues can’t come up against struggling opposition at Stamford Bridge, it won’t bode well for their chances against an elite side.
A slim margin determines Champions League qualification, and Chelsea are currently on the wrong side of that.
