Chelsea in crisis?

Richardson: sees problems at Chelsea

Scolari seems to have a divide between the English players and the foreign players. John Terry and Frank Lampard aren't happy at the training and it's a recipe for disaster.

John Richardson
Quotes of the week

John Richardson told the Sunday Supplement why the current situation at Chelsea is a "recipe for disaster".

Luiz Felipe Scolari has been criticised in recent weeks following a run which has seen Chelsea draw four of their last five games - against Southend, Fulham, West Ham and Everton.

And speaking ahead of Chelsea's top-of-the-table clash with Manchester United, Lovejoy said divisions in the squad has seen the club go into freefall since the departure of Jose Mourinho last season.

Sunday Express writer Richardson also pointed to the disruptive influence of striker Didier Drogba as a cause for concern.

"I think ever since Jose Mourinho went there's been problems," he said.

"Scolari seems to have a divide between the English players and the foreign players.

"John Terry and Frank Lampard aren't happy at the training and it's a recipe for disaster I'm afraid at the moment.

"I am very surprised because I thought Scolari was a good appointment, but it does seem to have gone downhill. I don't know why because the players there are good enough.

"The major difference of course is that Scolari cannot go out and buy big. That is a huge difference.

"All of the managers before him have been able to do that - and that side needs reinforcing at the moment.

"It's badly in need of a top striker and they've also got the problem of Didier Drogba.

"Why they didn't sell him in the summer I don't know because I think he causes problems, he doesn't play enough and I just think that's a recipe for disaster as well, having him around the place."

Joe Lovejoy of the Sunday Times was also at the Sunday Supplement breakfast table and he disagreed that the problems started when Mournho left Stamford Bridge last season.

Lovejoy argued that the pressure from owner Roman Abramovich to improve the style of football - at the expense of results - was the start of the decline.

"One thing I'd disagree with is that all was sweetness and light when Mourinho left," he said.

"I think it was starting to go wrong before Mourinho left, which is why Roman Abramovich was complaining about the style of football they were playing.

"Chelsea's style changed after the wingers all went. They started playing a different sort of football, less penetrative football, and results weren't as good as they had been previously.

"We are looking at the Mourinho years now, to some degree, through rose-tinted spectacles - or blue-tinted spectacles it should be!"

Unlucky

But despite their problems, Lovejoy feels Chelsea have a good chance of winning the league this year - especially if they get their best players fit again.

"I think Chelsea have been slightly unlucky and I've still got a feeling they could win the league," he added.

"They've been unlucky with injuries, they've been without key players for a long time, especially Carvalho who I rate as their best defender and Essien who is a fantastic midfielder.

"Drogba, for one reason or another hasn't been around as much as he should have. They've been very unlucky with injuries.

"I think at full strength, with John Terry back fit and firing, I would still make them favourites."