Danny Fulbrook told the Sunday Supplement that the Chelsea hierarchy are to blame for the mess they're in.
Chelsea chiefs responsible for early-season crisis, says Fullbrook
Danny Fulbrook believes Chelsea's midweek win over Valencia was nothing to do with Avram Grant.
The Blues' new boss tasted success for the first time thanks to a 2-1 win in the Champions League, easing the instant pressure he has been under since replacing Jose Mourinho.
But as the
Sunday Supplement picked over the bones of another busy week at Stamford Bridge, Fulbrook was adamant that only one thing got them back on track - the players.
"This is Chelsea we're talking about, the controversy will never go away!" he said.
"If you're telling me they beat Valencia because of Avram Grant, that's absolute nonsense.
"They beat Valencia first of all because John Terry showed some leadership; secondly the players that were already there are very experienced and a very good set of players, which is something which has been slightly forgotten.
"Joe Cole and Didier Drogba were back and put in a performance; and Ricardo Carvalho was back for the first time since the first game of the season.
"The greatest influence Avram Grant had on that performance was not playing Andriy Shevchenko. That was his input. If you think that's good enough then yes, he did make an impact."
Fulbrook also believes the mess the two-time Premier League champions find themselves in is entirely of their own doing.
The
Sunday Supplement panel was not exactly awash with sympathy for Mourinho, but the Daily Star's football writer believes that whether it be Grant, Henk Ten Cate or even Guus Hiddink in charge, the Blues are rotten from the top down.
Appalling
And he says, the Special One's departure simply exposed the flaws and faults that were, to a degree, papered over by his unparalleled success. Success that was achieved without any help from Roman Abramovich and his board.
"The Chelsea hierarchy were appalling last season," he said.
"First of all we all had to go to the House of Commons for some media launch where Jose Mourinho had to defend himself and his staff.
"That coaching staff were not on proper contracts, he was told Avram Grant was being thrust and forced upon him and he just wasn't allowed to get on and do what he wanted.
"And the summer before he had to contend with players he didn't want being forced on him - like Shevchenko.
"Then, minutes after winning the FA Cup, a number of journalists - who the club have since tried to challenge, unsuccessfully - have been told that winning the FA Cup and Carling Cup was not a good season!"
