Chelsea's season has been marred by a series of red cards and set-piece goals, which have left them struggling to keep up with the Premier League's top teams. But here's where it gets controversial: Is it all just 'cultural' issues, or are there deeper problems at play?
The Blues have been dealt a harsh hand with a string of dismissals and set-piece goals, which have seen them drop to sixth in the table. The latest defeat to Arsenal saw them concede two set-piece goals and have a player sent off, leaving them six points adrift of the top four. But this isn't the first time Chelsea has struggled with these issues, and it's raising questions about the club's culture and leadership.
One possible factor is that Chelsea has the youngest squad in the Premier League and lacks natural leaders. This could be contributing to the team's indiscipline, as younger players may be more susceptible to making mistakes in high-pressure situations. However, this isn't an excuse, and the club needs to address these issues if they want to improve their performance.
The club has received nine dismissals across all competitions, which is a concerning statistic. They are one short of equalling the joint record of eight different players sent off in a single season, and two away from matching the Premier League record for the most red cards in a campaign. This is far from a new issue, as Chelsea has finished second-bottom and bottom in the fair-play table in the past two seasons.
Former England defender Matthew Upson believes that these issues are cultural and need to be addressed at the pre-season level. He told BBC Radio 5 Live, 'It is something that is said in pre-season. It is cultural and you build it into the club. The players buy into it and they police it. It is about being measured and controlled at the right moment.'
Reece James, one of the leaders tasked with helping halt Chelsea's disciplinary slide, told Sky Sports, 'Every time it's someone different, not the same player. Internally we need to review and keep improving. It's a problem. We are playing in the toughest league in the world — 11 v 11 is tough; 11 v 10 is even harder, no matter who you are playing.'
Chelsea has conceded 10 set-piece goals in 13 matches since Rosenior's appointment in early January, and only West Ham have conceded more than the nine set-piece goals Chelsea has conceded in the Premier League this season. This is a longstanding issue, and while Chelsea has improved in terms of attacking output, defending dead-ball situations has remained a problem.
Perhaps most concerning, Rosenior revealed that Chelsea had been working on defending such situations without a midweek match to serve as a distraction: 'There is certain focus and concentration issues that we have to address. We worked on set-plays all week and, as a manager, that makes it even more difficult to swallow.'
So, is it all just 'cultural' issues, or are there deeper problems at play? It's a question that Chelsea fans and the football world are asking, and it's one that needs to be addressed if the club wants to move forward and achieve their goals.
