After dropping points four the fourth consecutive Premier League game, there is no let-up for Chelsea as they travel to Manchester City in the third round of the EFL Cup on Wednesday night.
The Blues were defeated 1-0 by bitter rivals Arsenal on Sunday to leave themselves seventh in the table after an underwhelming start to life under Graham Potter. However, pundit Rio Ferdinand has been quick to point out the number of injuries the new Blues boss is having to contend with, which no doubt contributed to another poor result at the weekend.
Elsewhere, United States manager Gregg Berhalter has sent an emphatic message regarding Christian Pulisic's quality ahead of the World Cup.
Here, Mirror Football rounds up the latest Stamford Bridge headlines.
Ferdinand defends Chelsea
In the wake of Chelsea's defeat by Arsenal, Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has pointed out the great many players Graham Potter is unable to call on due to injuries.
N'Golo Kante (thigh), Kepa Arrizabalaga (foot), Ben Chilwell (thigh), Wesley Fofana (knee) and Reece James (knee) are unavailable for the Blues. Ferdinand told his FIVE podcast : "That was a patched-up Chelsea team. They are missing Reece James, Ben Chilwell, Kalidou Koulibaly, Wesley Fofana, N'Golo Kante, there is six players that more or less start in that team.
"I was so impressed with how Arsenal played but let's have a little reality check; Arsenal are a serious team now but it wasn't even their [Chelsea's] first team."
Where will Chelsea finish in the Premier League this season? Have your say in the comments!
Premier League dates confirmed
Chelsea have learned the calendar for the 2023/24 season, which will begin on Saturday 12 August 2023, meaning there are 76 clear days between the end of this campaign and the start of the next.
The winter break will return in early January to give players a breather, with the schedule reverting to a more familiar one after a number of seasons impacted by coronavirus and the winter World Cup in Qatar.
Berhalter sounds Pulisic warning
United States manager Gregg Berhalter has talked up Christian Pulisic's quality ahead of the World Cup - during which his side will face England in the group stage - by declaring the Chelsea forward has "special quality".
“He's the catalyst, he's the guy who can jump-start everything, can make everything happen because of his ability," Berhalter said of the 24-year-old. "It's not to add pressure to him because without everyone else performing well, he'll have no opportunity to do that. But that's what I mean, he's like the tip of the iceberg, he's like that last bit, that really can put you over the top with his special quality."
