It was only three months since Chelsea played – and won – in a way that showed how good the club can be.
That was until manager Enzo Maresca stated that they were not Premier League opportunities. This was not in the beginning with a club that had won 21 trophies for the past 19 years.
Since that press conference after the victory over Brentford in December, Chelsea has been mediocre, with only two victories of nine league matches, which shows that good leadership and messages for the media and players have to go hand in hand.
So often since his arrival, Cole Palmer is the Savior of Chelsea and he has thrive in his link-up game behind Nicolas Jackson. Jackson was not considered good enough for Chelsea last season, but his lung breachers extended the defense and left valuable space in which Palmer can thrive.
The most recent defeat of Brighton was the first league match this season that Palmer did not have a chance. He did not score or helped in five games. To find a solution for Jackson's injury, Maresca has turned to Christopher Nunku, who has spent more time playing behind Palmer than for him.
Chelsea needs Nunku to stretch the game for Palmer to help them be more creative. With Noni Madueke also injured, Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho have to start contributing goals and assists. For too long, Maresca has been familiar with the axis of Jackson-Palmer.
Due to the transfer policy of the new owners, there is hardly a player left from then Thomas Tuchel Chelsea to Champions League and Club World Cup Glory. They have spent £ 1.5 billion – and only a fraction of strikers – so there are limited options in central positions.
This is a club that has spent so much money on research and analysis, but they still left Jackson on the field against West Ham, who after 26 minutes complained about a hamstring injury but was only taken 10 minutes in the second half. Jackson has made more than 100 sprints in the Premier League this season than any other Chelsea player. It was an accident that waited to happen.
I cheer the way Maresca turned the team, but now the results and performance seem to be falling.
It is not just their attack that is a problem. The defense loses its shape and is far too often a position pulled out of the position. They look vulnerable when the ball goes wide.
The trip to Aston Villa on Saturday is a huge game for both teams. Unai Emery was stripped Villa did not defeat Liverpool in midweek, which shows you the conviction he has in the quality of the new version of his team.
He has played an excellent poker on the transfer market and has sold Moussa Diaby and Douglas Luiz for more than £ 100 million, but replaces them with a large number of new players. The way in which January the signing of Marco Asensio moved the ball under pressure against Liverpool was a top class.
Both clubs are in a cluster of parties on the hunt for European football. It is now to do or die now for Chelsea. They see themselves as a Champions League club, but if they do not quickly pick up their versions, this will be a third consecutive campaign without it.
That would have been unthinkable under Roman Abramovich.
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