Ex-Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley has launched a scathing attack on his former club and their supporters following Saturday’s loss to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Chelsea were beaten 3-1 after having another man sent off. Defender Trevoh Chalobah was dismissed in the second half, helping Brighton to complete a comeback and earn all three points.
The weekend before, it was Robert Sanchez who saw red in the Blues’ 2-1 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Sanchez did say sorry after the match, but Chelsea fans will still be angry with both him and Chalobah.
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty ImagesCraig Burley claims Chelsea got carried away after Club World Cup success
Chelsea went into this season with a lot of momentum after winning the Club World Cup in July.
However, Burley does not think it means much and has criticised Chelsea and their supporters for how they reacted to getting their hands on the trophy.
Speaking on ESPN FC, the 1997 FA Cup winner said: “This is a Chelsea side — and Chelsea supporters — who got carried away with this powderpuff Club World Cup nonsense, absolute nonsense. This here is their bread and butter. This here is what will define their manager, the Premier League.
“So, you can forget all that world club, world club champions nonsense and all that. This is the crux of how their season will be defined and whether he [Enzo Maresca] will remain in a job.”
It is an interesting take. Had Chelsea got off to a good start in the Premier League, Burley could have easily been saying that the club’s Club World Cup success has been a springboard for them.
Whatever the case, their start to the campaign has not been good enough, especially considering the teams they have played so far.
Jason Cundy has also torn into Chelsea following their second loss of the Premier League season.
Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty ImagesWhat Bayern Munich director Max Eberl recently said about Chelsea’s Club World Cup success
Bayern Munich director of sport Max Eberl has been much more positive about Chelsea’s Club World Cup triumph.
Before Bayern’s recent 3-1 win against Maresca’s side in the Champions League, Eberl stated that Chelsea deserved to win the Club World Cup and highlighted the energy that they showed during the tournament.
“I think Chelsea deserved to win the final, with their incredible energy,” Eberl said.
It is nice to hear, but the Blues cannot live off that forever. The competition is over and they now have to start picking up points in the Premier League.