Football News

«When we have bad days, we are so bad. When we are good, we are capable of everything.»

I could not have put it any better myself. Mauricio Pochettino summed up a lot of what is going on at Chelsea at the moment in just 18 words. The problem is, while the consistency issue is clear and obvious for everyone to see – there is no clear solution.

The Blues were humbled on Tuesday night at Arsenal. Who knows what happens in the Chelsea changing room at half-time but it is not working. Nine times – in all competitions – the Blues have conceded between the 45th and 55th minute this season.

That 10-minute period, for whatever reason, seems to be an absolute nightmare for Chelsea and Pochettino. After starting the game poorly, allowing Arsenal to go a goal up inside four minutes through Leandro Trossard, Pochettino told his players at half-time that they simply cannot allow that to happen again.

«We were talking at half-time, it is not possible to start the game like this, but we started in a bad way again – conceding two goals in this moment,» the Chelsea head coach said. «I think the team gave up and we were not in the game.»

It was clear they did give up. The body language on the pitch was poor and when that is the case, what is the point of the supporters staying to watch? They could not think of one and the majority of the away end at the Emirates Stadium was empty after Kai Havertz's quick-fire double against his former club.

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Pochettino seemed to give up, too, judging by his substitutions. Chelsea made their first round of changes on 66

Leandro Trossard Mauricio Pochettino Kai Havertz Arsenal