It’s been delayed, but we may be seeing the negativity of the furore surrounding Chelsea manifest itself on the pitch.
Chelsea’s shock 4 – 1 loss to Brentford at Stamford Bridge occurred against the backdrop of fan protests on Saturday.
The Chelsea Supporters Trust organized the protest against the potential takeover of the club by the Ricketts family.
“At present, it is clear that our membership neither supports nor has confidence in the Ricketts family’s bid for the club,” read a CST statement.
“This is reflective of wider concerns articulated by large, vocal sections of Chelsea’s supporter base.”
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There will be a resolution soon, because Roman Abramovic has an April 11 deadline to complete the sale.
The Ricketts family own the Chicago Cubs in Major League Baseball. They are a controversial choice due to Joe Ricketts’ controversial comments regarding the Muslim community.
Manager Thomas Tuchel appeared to have stabilized the playing side among the turmoil. However, there is only so much he can do.
Not a lot was made of their 1 – 1 draw against Newcastle before the international break. Taken in the context of the Brentford defeat, it speaks to a team that is slipping.
Chelsea’s position in third in the Premier League table looked secure. Now, they could be caught by Arsenal or Tottenham who show no signs of slowing down.
If Arsenal win their game in hand, they will be just two points behind Chelsea. Suddenly, their claim to being the best of the rest is vulnerable.
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They have a £90 million striker on the bench as well as uncertainty around several key squad members. With the Champions League to navigate also, Chelsea’s rivals will be looking up at them and licking their lips.
