Anyone notice Chelsea are getting booed a bit earlier than normal recently?
Being targeted by opposition fans is not unusual for the club’s players. Chelsea have never been the most universally popular team over the years, particularly since they rose to serial winners under former owner Roman Abramovich.
But it is hard to recall them being on the receiving end of too many jeers before each half has even kicked off… until now. The past week has seen Chelsea’s pre-match antics attract the ire of Aston Villa and Wrexham fans. Opposition players have looked rather agitated, too.
Seeing 11 players doing a huddle on the pitch ahead of the fixture getting underway is not uncommon. Many teams do it and Chelsea have been one of them. But they have begun doing it with a new twist lately by performing the exercise at the beginning of every 45 minutes in the centre circle, right where the ball is placed.
This seems a deliberate exercise in not only hyping themselves up — yet it is not a failsafe given how inconsistent they are — but also to rattle who they are up against.
Who is behind it? Head coach Liam Rosenior, who replaced Enzo Maresca in January, is not taking any of the credit. He has made it clear that the players came up with it, although former Wigan rugby league star Willie Isa, who was hired by the club 13 months ago as a player support and development officer, has provided a bit of an assist.
What is surprising is just how it is beginning to wind people up. Even former Liverpool and Real Madrid attacker Steve McManaman lost his cool while commentating for TNT Sports at Chelsea’s game at Villa Park. He said: “I think it’s ridiculous to be very honest. Nowadays, with the psychological gains to be made, everyone’s coming up with a new silly idea and this is one of them.”
So let’s have a look at what’s going on.
Here is Exhibit A from the 4-1 win at Villa Park. While the Villa fans made their displeasure known about Chelsea’s display of unity ahead of the game, it was the Villa players who led the objections after the interval. Striker Ollie Watkins looks outraged, making his protests clear to referee Jarred Gillett, although midfielder Douglas Luiz seems to see the funny side.
Meanwhile, Chelsea captain Reece James appears to be trying to get Wesley Fofana to concentrate at the task in hand and complete the circle. But no one can question Alejandro Garnacho’s focus — he is head down and ready to go.
With the huddle now in full swing, Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana mixes incredulity and outrage as he appeals to Gillett over what is occurring. You have to admire the way Chelsea players are successfully ignoring the midfielder.
The camera lens switches back to Watkins remonstrating with Gillett.
Aston Villa were 2-1 down at this point, so you can appreciate their desire to get on with the game, especially with Unai Emery’s attempts to galvanise them during his team talk still fresh in their minds. Chelsea’s delaying tactics clearly amused Rosenior, who was watching on from the dugout.
Circling the ball before kick off is an all new tactic from Chelsea! ⚽️👀 pic.twitter.com/aDWuJHE4UE
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 6, 2026
Rosenior made nine changes to his starting XI for Wrexham on Saturday, but the commitment to the strategy was steadfast. There is admirable binding here. There is no chance a Wrexham player can get in among this lot to break it up.
Chelsea had their pre-match huddle inside the centre circle again in their FA Cup tie against Wrexham yesterday, after doing so at Villa Park earlier in the week 🔍 pic.twitter.com/aibilkG0At
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 8, 2026
Chelsea started all this back on January 28 when they went to one of the toughest venues in Europe — the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium — to take on Serie A champions Napoli in their final Champions League group game. They had to win to secure a place in the top eight and qualify for the last 16 automatically. And so they did, coming from behind to secure a 3-2 victory.
Footballers can be superstitious folk, so perhaps if it worked once, they decided to keep with it. Notably, three days after that triumph, Chelsea came from two goals down at home against West Ham United to again win 3-2.
This time round, it takes a few seconds for the Chelsea players to form a circle and not everyone seems to know what they are doing, or look like they have bought into the exercise.
With Reece James out injured, vice-captain Enzo Fernandez leads the huddle and delivers some earnest words to team-mates.
While West Ham are oblivious to Chelsea’s tactic, their manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, doesn’t look impressed.
Next up is the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at the Emirates, which Chelsea lost 1-0. Arsenal fans are singing “north London forever” as Rosenior’s team perform their new ritual.
Wolves away on February 7 was a cold one, so all the more reason for the Chelsea players to hold each other tightly. It was raining, too. Referee Jarred Gillett is in charge once again and walks over to them, seemingly getting a little wary of the time it’s taking.
The Wolves players glance over a bit bemused, but there are no angry words, not like at Villa Park… Chelsea win the first half 3-0.
Then it’s Leeds United at home. Daniel Farke, the Leeds head coach, is stern-faced with his arms crossed as Chelsea gather over the match ball. It’s like a well-oiled machine by this point. The game finishes 2-2.
For the following game, Chelsea’s line-up is rotated, but the ritual remains as they beat Hull City 4-0 away in the FA Cup.
Burnley are the next visitors to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League, and club captain James is back. The Burnley players trudge past, without a care in the world. Chelsea take an early lead in the fourth minute, so perhaps it worked to spur them on. They falter after the break, though, and the game finishes 1-1.
Back to the Emirates, this time in the league. Arsenal get their huddle in motion first, in the traditional positioning in their own half. William Saliba looks over at Chelsea’s central position, perhaps in awe.
For the start of the second half, the Chelsea players finish their huddle as Arsenal return to the pitch. James is giving an animated speech with the score 1-1. They go on to lose 2-1.
Chelsea’s record since the huddle was introduced? Played 10, won six, drawn two, lost two. Not bad, but not great either.
Rosenior sees only positives in it, though. As he said during his post-match interview at Aston Villa: “I really like it because they’re showing unity and togetherness and spirit, and I think you need that.
“Before anything, you start talking about tactics or systems, you need a group of players willing to run and fight for each other, and in my time, I have to say, there’s not been one game where I can say they haven’t given everything or I was disappointed with their application, and that bodes well.
“They’re a good group, they’re a tight group, they enjoy each other’s company, and that’s half the battle.”
We do not have too long to wait to see it again. Paris Saint-Germain, hardly great admirers of Chelsea after they beat them in July’s Club World Cup final, host them at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie on Wednesday night.
One suspects a hostile atmosphere will get even louder when Chelsea try to take over the centre circle once again.