It has been a torrid time for Chelsea after the international break: seven goals conceded, back-to-back defeats; and the defence of their Champions League crown hanging by a thread.
Thomas Tuchel declared their quarter-final against Real Madrid as dead, despite it only being half-time in that tie.
His downbeat comments after Wednesday’s 3-1 defeat pointed to his deep-rooted concerns about his team and their ability to overturn this alarming slump. This next week is going to be the most pivotal of Chelsea’s season so far, with a trip to the Bernabeu and then Wembley, for their FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace.
Here, Standard Sport assesses the immediate issues for Tuchel for fix to save the season:
Crisis of confidence
Chelsea felt near-invincible in the lead-up to the international break, but that confidence has been shattered by back-to-back defeats.
A run of 12 wins from 13 games had breathed new life into their season and kept them fighting on three fronts.
While no one saw the Brentford defeat coming, it still had the feel of an aberration. But perhaps Tuchel underestimated the effect such a heavy loss had on his players.
From the moment Karim Benzema put Madrid ahead on Wednesday, Chelsea heads were all over the place. Going two goals down in 24 minutes rocked them to the core.
Should they go behind to Southampton on Saturday, it will be another serious examination of their fragile self-belief.
Crumbling blue wall
Speaking of fragile, Chelsea’s once near-impenetrable rearguard has never looked so flimsy under Tuchel.
Madrid could not believe the space that opened up for them almost every time they advanced, with Andreas Christensen looking like a rabbit in the headlights when confronted by Vinicius Jr.
Questions will naturally be asked about the effect his imminent move to Barcelona is having on him — and that is a situation that needs to be monitored. He is by no means the only problem — he was not even picked against Brentford — but his form has been crucial to Chelsea’s success over the past 18 months.
Kante conundrum
If N’Golo Kante is Chelsea’s Superman, Madrid were his kryptonite. It says everything about his ineffectual display on Wednesday that Tuchel opted to remove him from the action at half time.
When have Chelsea ever taken Kante off in a bid to turn a match? But it was easy to understand Tuchel’s thinking on the night, with Madrid repeatedly charging through midfield areas and Kante unable to prevent Luka Modric from dictating the game.
Chelsea will have to hope it was that rarest of bad days at the office for Kante, as he will be crucial to their hopes of turning the tie around, as well as getting them over the line in the race for Champions League qualification via the League.
Tactical mistakes
Tuchel was honest enough to admit he did not give Christensen enough protection in a back-three, while his decision to leave Mateo Kovacic out of his starting XI was also curious, given the energy and penetration he could offer against the veteran legs of Modric and Toni Kroos.
Against Brentford on Saturday, he decided to rest Reece James, which cost Chelsea his creative influence until he came on.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but Tuchel is the type to get the big calls right. At the moment, it feels like every mistake is being punished.
Off-pitch problems
Tuchel insists the sale of the club is having no impact on his players — and their form amid all of those off-field distractions had been outstanding. But the minute performances dipped on the pitch, a link was always going to be made.
Tuchel has done a remarkable job of focusing minds, but the players would not be human if they did not pay attention to the stories swirling around the club.
And in a week when prospective bidders have met with club officials, while sections of support have mobilised to give their own opinions, it may be a case of something finally giving.
Tuchel was right to point out that Southampton is now Chelsea’s immediate priority, but their season hangs on that second leg at the Bernabeu.
