‘Problems at both ends of the pitch’

In simple terms, boss Enzo Maresca will say a patchy run of form was coming for Chelsea.

The Italian manager said his side were not title contenders – even when second in the Premier League and just two points behind leaders Liverpool in mid-December.

But since then, the Blues have won just one league match and problems at both ends of the pitch have caught up with them.

There are questions about whether Robert Sanchez is good enough after his league-high five mistakes leading to goals, while forward Nicolas Jackson has not scored since mid-December either.

The timing of the dip is curious when Conference League midweeks have suddenly ended, which as Uefa’s third-tier competition, pitted Chelsea against teams they were simply both richer and better than.

Those matches regularly saw Maresca make up to 11 changes to his starting line-up which helped keep squad players happy and in form.

Now, they are either on the bench or being linked with moves away and the noise around the club in the transfer window has appeared destabilising.

Maresca acknowledged his dislike of the noise, calling it an “absolute nightmare” and, although partly tongue in cheek, that will be part of the truth he is living this month.