sport news Chelsea risk a dressing room mutiny if Mauricio Pochettino is axed, but furious ... trends now
Arsenal's 5-0 thumping of Chelsea at the Emirates on Tuesday was a stark reminder of what this billion-pound team has become under the stewardship of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. Nothing more than a mid-table Premier League side.
Bewildered, leaky and wasteful in the absence of Cole Palmer, who has undeniably been Chelsea's sole shining light this season, the Blues were made to look distinctly average by Mikel Arteta's title-chasing machine as they slipped down to ninth in the table, closer to the relegation zone than third place in terms of points.
Chelsea fans, who furiously left the Emirates en masse on Tuesday night, are fully aware that success doesn't happen overnight. They've heard countless times the process-signalling proverb of 'Rome wasn't built in a day'. But after a second season of underperformance, and a successive mid-table finish threatening, many disgruntled and crestfallen supporters have simply had enough.
The job Mauricio Pochettino was faced with upon arriving at Stamford Bridge last summer was never going to be easy. Inheriting an excessive array of expensive, young stars and taking over after three managerial exits the previous campaign, the Argentine was given a weak foundation from the outset. And there has been some progress, however small, during the manager's debut season.
So, should the Chelsea board back or sack Pochettino? Mail Sport takes a look at the arguments for and against as the Blues head for another seismic summer at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea were thumped 5-0 by their London rivals Arsenal at the Emirates on Tuesday night
The heavy defeat put more scrutiny on Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino ahead of the summer
Todd Boehly and the Chelsea board have a huge decision to make over Pochettino's future
BACK - Gradual improvements
There may still be little to celebrate at Stamford Bridge after another below-par season, but Pochettino has at least put Chelsea back on the road to success.
If the Blues were more clinical in the final third - both defensively and offensively - they would have likely beaten Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, defeated Man City in the FA Cup semi-final and be on course for a European return next season.
Liverpool's Carabao Cup triumph - which sparked Gary Neville's 'billion-pound bottle-jobs' comment of Chelsea - came about after the Blues switched off in the dying moments of extra time and squandered a catalogue of chances back in February.
Wastefulness was Chelsea's biggest vice again at Wembley last weekend, with summer arrival Nicolas Jackson the primary culprit for spurning a hatful of glorious opportunities during their late 1-0 defeat by Manchester City.
And finally, according to OPTA statistics comparing actual and expected league position when Chelsea were 11th back in March, it was discovered that the Blues should be sixth behind Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Newcastle.
Other than relegation-threatened Burnley, Chelsea have played the youngest Premier League side this season at an average age of 24.3 against Crystal Palace back in December. Injured forward Christopher Nkunku was the oldest player at 26 during the club's 2-1 win.
Although results are everything in football, the underlying statistics and youthful potential of Chelsea's squad suggests Pochettino is just a few tweaks away from finding the right formula.
Despite the ups and downs this season, Pochettino's side are playing an attractive brand of football, creating plenty of chances - and reached the Carabao Cup final back in February
Chelsea have a very young team and will need to keep faith in the long term vision to improve
SACK - Leaky style of play
Chelsea was synonymous with strength, toughness and brawn during the Roman Abramovich days, with the likes of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte steering the Blues to multiple titles with defence-first strategies.
While it is clear that the Boehly-led regime is eager to mirror the attacking styles of Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool in pursuit of silverware, the importance of a solid defence has never lost its value, especially over the relentless length of a Premier league season.
Chelsea 5-0 hammering at the Emirates marked a club record for Premier League goals conceded in a single season - 57 to date - overtaking the 55 they let during the 1994-95 and 1996-97 campaigns.
Although the Blues were a disaster in attack last season, the experience of defensive-minded players like N'Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly and Cesar Azpilicueta meant that Chelsea conceded more than ten goals fewer last season.
Pochettino has no doubt had injury issues in defence this term, with Reece James and Ben Chilwell continually suffering setbacks, but the significant majority of out-and-out defenders have been readily available for the Argentine and failed to produce consistently.
How much of this is down to the players and how much blame should be pointed at Pochettino is up for debate, but, by trading pragmatism in for expansive football, the manager has Chelsea conceding more goals than ever before.
Chelsea have now conceded 57 goals in the Premier League - the most they have ever let in
Conor Gallagher and Moises Caicedo were run ragged by the Gunners midfield on Tuesday
BACK - Risking a player mutiny
Mail Sport's KIERAN GILL reported on Wednesday night that Chelsea will risk a dressing room mutiny if Pochettino is forced out the door this summer.
Sources close to Chelsea's players strongly insisted that the squad remains fully behind Pochettino ahead of the summer, despite many fans calling for him to be sacked.
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