Chris Sutton says what needed to be said about Chelsea players after Liam Rosenior sack

Chris Sutton believes his old club Chelsea have a lot to fix after their sacking of Liam Rosenior this week. Rosenior was sacked following a dire run of results that saw the Blues win only one of their last seven games, with that only win coming against relegated League One side Port Vale.

The Blues had also gone five straight league games without scoring for the first time since 1912, and it didn’t look as though Rosenior had any idea of how to fix the clear issues. A 3-0 defeat to European rivals Brighton proved the final straw, and just hours after the Tuesday night defeat, Rosenior was sacked, less than four months into his time at Stamford Bridge.

Chris Sutton blames Chelsea players, not solely Liam Rosenior

Much has already been made of the sacking, and while most feel as though it was a decision that had to be made, criticism has rained down on the Blues. Most feel the decisions leading up to the Rosenior sacking have made for a sorry situation at Stamford Bridge, and that the decision-makers have a lot to answer for.

Former Blues striker Sutton is firmly in that camp, and he also took aim at the players for failing to deliver under Rosenior.

Writing for his BBC Sport predictions column, Sutton claimed: “I don’t think Liam Rosenior was the biggest problem at Chelsea, although some of his decisions certainly did not help his cause.”

“I was at Amex Stadium on Tuesday, co-commentating on Rosenior’s final game in charge, and the lack of effort some of the Chelsea players put in against Brighton was more damning on them than their manager.”

“Rosenior was right when he came out afterwards and said the performance was ‘unacceptable’ but, sadly, when a manager is so critical of his players you know that is usually the end for him.”

“I hope Rosenior gets back into management soon, and the state Chelsea are in is certainly not a reflection on him. The model the club’s owners have gone for is part of the problem, as Rosenior’s predecessors found out too.”

Sutton’s prediction

Chelsea must now dust themselves off quickly to prepare for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final with Leeds United, and the competition could be vital for the Blues.

By the end of the weekend, Chelsea could be out of the European spots altogether, and while there is time remaining to remedy that situation in the Premier League, the FA Cup offers a guaranteed route to Europe.

But Sutton is not optimistic. Predicting a 2-1 Leeds win, he added: “It is left to Calum McFarlane to take charge for this game, and we will have to wait to see who he has fit – and then which Chelsea side will turn up. Leeds beat Chelsea at Elland Road in December, and drew with them at Stamford Bridge in February.

“Daniel Farke’s side are not completely safe yet but they picked up another really good point late on against Bournemouth on Wednesday, and they have got a lot about them. I am going for them to beat Chelsea at Wembley too.”