The script was too hard to be ignored. It had already been written as Graham Potter travelled back to the Amex Community Stadium. His 'welcome' was anything but, Seagulls fans seemingly don't care for his work at the club.
That made the 4-1 hammering even worse. Chelsea started like they weren't expecting a barrage of energy from Roberto De Zerbi's fired-up side and it left Potter embarrassed on the touchline. Chelsea's actual plan for the wingbacks was shown in the second half as Christian Pulisic and Raheem Sterling were allowed to venture forward, but the failure to get a foothold in the first meant it was all too late by then.
Whether this crushing blow will make the 47-year-old rethink his tactics moving forward or not is another question, but for now the Blues must be prepared as Arsenal come next in the Premier League, at least the Blues should be well-rested with a dead-rubber Champions League match on Wednesday.
