Chelsea icon Frank Leboeuf savagely tore into the Blues’ underperforming stars after their “shameful” FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester City at the weekend.
The West London side saw their journey in the competition ended at the third round stage for the first time since 1998 after finding themselves on the end of a 4-0 humbling at the Etihad Stadium. They were three goals behind at the break following a woeful first period with the Blues now having lost six out of their last nine matches in all competitions.
The fallout began immediately with Leboeuf taking aim at first-team stars Kai Havertz, Mason Mount and Jorginho for their showings and claimed that it “disrespected” both the club and the fans. Speaking to ESPN FC at half-time, he said: “Shameful, really shameful. I’ve never seen Chelsea so low in terms of willing, they don’t have the will, they don’t have the guts, they don’t have the courage to fight for the colours, they don’t have pride.
“I see players prove nothing, they show disrespect towards the fans and the club. I’m talking about the leaders, so-called leaders, I’m not talking about Hall, Chalobah or Humphreys, I’m talking about the players who form the spine, they are shameful, they do nothing.
“I don’t know what Kai Havertz is doing, he’ll be on record for scoring in the Champions League final, but what else? Mason, yes, I love him, he’s a guy from the club, but come on, he has to do something.”
Italian midfielder Jorginho was also on the receiving end of a brutal assessment from the former Chelsea defender and claimed that he should have been hauled off at half-time in what was a showing that was unrecognisable from his ex-employers.
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He added: “I’m not even going to talk about Jorginho. I don’t know what Jorginho is still doing on the field.
‘I’m very upset with what I’ve seen. I think it’s really disrespectful, they don’t do anything to make sure at least people will be proud.
“Enough is enough, something has to be changed. It’s not the club I know, it’s not the club fighting for Europe and being a champion of Europe, they’re so far away from that right now.”
Chelsea’s run of assignments do not get any easier in midweek as they travel to Craven Cottage to take on in-form Fulham in the Premier League. Ahead of the match, the Blues sit tenth in the current standings and already ten points behind fourth-placed Manchester United.
Despite their horrendous recent run, it is reported that boss Graham Potter is not currently under threat of losing his job at Stamford Bridge. The former Brighton manager was appointed as Thomas Tuchel’s replacement in September and put pen to paper on a five-year deal.
