Chelsea repeated many of the frustrations from the defeat at Manchester United in the home loss to Brighton. In this case, the Blues were at least winning the game when they decided to remove all their attacking threat. Enzo Maresca has since admitted these were mistakes and that he is learning from them - but that is cold comfort for fans who are already very worried.
A red card born of an error followed by a bad decision, defensive changes and an eventual collapse. Sound familiar? Chelsea repeated many of the frustrations from the defeat at Manchester United in the home loss to Brighton.
In this case, the Blues were at least winning the game when they decided to remove all their attacking threat. But once again, switching to a defensive stance reduced their ability to create anything, without actually helping them keep goals out.
Enzo Maresca has since admitted these were mistakes and that he is learning from them - but that is cold comfort for fans who are already very worried.
Last season, Chelsea survived a desperate spell of form in the winter because of the points they had accumulated in the autumn. This year, they have started much more slowly. In addition, the fact they had no pre-season and were playing in the Club World Cup until July means a mid-season dip is even more likely.
Talk of the manager being under pressure is premature - but things are heading in the wrong direction, even if there is a long way to go.
The squad are half exhausted and half injured - and it is not yet October. The same lack of experience which hurt us so much last term still haunts us.
Maresca's mea culpa shows that it is not just his squad who are learning on the job.
There is no leadership at the back and no coherent, consistent attacking play. More pertinently, there is now no Cole Palmer to make up for those failings.
This week could be another punishing one. Jose Mourinho's Benfica come to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday to face a wounded Chelsea, and will smell blood.
Then Liverpool on Saturday is an even more worrying prospect.
Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News
Category: General Sports
