According to insider Simon Johnson from The Athletic, in his first team meeting, former Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior pointed out a key issue for the players – their lack of emotional maturity.
The coach emphasised that the London side could completely control the game, but any unforeseen event – a controversial referee decision or a silly conceded goal – would instantly throw the team off balance. As a result, Chelsea lost focus for 10–15 minutes, which regularly led to defeats.
As a key example, Liam Rosenior cited the match against PSG, in which the London club completely fell apart in the 74th minute following a glaring mistake by their goalkeeper. Another stark illustration of the systemic discipline crisis was the regular red cards received by players in crucial moments of the season.
It was the mental instability of the squad that prevented the manager from building a long-term project at Stamford Bridge.
