Like a once-elegant Edwardian rowing boat moored on the Thames, but fatally holed below the waterline, Chelsea are sedately sinking to the bottom of the river, writes Tim Harrison.
The captain is putting a brave face on it. Well, he would, wouldn’t he? He wants to keep his job. But the actual owners of the boat are having second thoughts about his navigational skills.
As the crucial FA Cup semi at Wembley looms this weekend, against that old foe Leeds United, the Blues are in disarray.
Four league defeats on the trot, fans in a state of mutiny, a defeat – admittedly an unlucky defeat – to Man Utd last Saturday, and Liam Rosenior’s band of brothers (several of whom are certain to quit in six weeks’ time) look anything like a side capable of qualifying for Europe next season.
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Another boisterous supporters’ demo before the United game was followed by telling terrace chants of ‘We want our Chelsea back’ and even ‘Super Frankie Lampard’ – a nod to the former favourite’s achievement in elevating Coventry City to the big time.
The bleak mood, not helped by United’s Matheus Cunha’s first-half goal, can only be lifted by a win against Leeds… and that’s by no means certain.
United scored with their sole shot on target, while Chelsea hit the woodwork three times, notably when Liam Delap, starting up front, headed against the apex in the 57th minute.
The gaffer has urged his players not to feel sorry for themselves, but it’s proving difficult to escape the current doom loop.
The Blues had the lion’s share of possession, and far more attempts than the visitors. But fresh injuries to two of the most creative and passionate players – Estevao and Enzo Fernandez – have added to the manager’s headaches.
“It is,” reflected Rosenior, “a really difficult result to take.”
As a great fictional detective's faithful companion might have put it, No ship, Sherlock.
