The crisis is deepening at Chelsea following yet another humiliation away at Brighton (3-0). Targeted by the fans and savaged by the English press, Liam Rosenior’s future looks increasingly bleak after a fifth consecutive Premier League defeat without scoring a single goal.
The slide seems never-ending for Chelsea. Away at Brighton, the Blues have plunged even deeper into crisis with a heavy 3-0 defeat that symbolises the London club’s disastrous end to the season. Yet the nightmare had begun very early on when Ferdi Kadioglu opened the scoring in the third minute, before Jack Hinshelwood doubled the lead on the hour mark and Danny Welbeck finished off the visitors in stoppage time. This defeat is particularly historic for all the wrong reasons, as the Blues have now suffered a fifth consecutive league defeat without scoring a single goal – a run not seen at Stamford Bridge since… 1912. In the Premier League table, the situation is becoming critical. Overtaken by Brighton and now seventh, Chelsea see the Champions League qualification places slipping dangerously out of reach with four games remaining.
In the eye of the storm, Liam Rosenior appears more vulnerable than ever. The English manager, who arrived with a reputation as a modern and promising coach, now sees his future seriously under threat after just a few months in charge of the Blues. Following their elimination by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, Chelsea have stalled and give the impression of a completely disorganised side. Chaos even reared its head before kick-off when the absence of Cole Palmer and João Pedro was leaked on social media via… Marc Cucurella’s hairdresser. On the pitch, there was no reaction whatsoever. The Londoners were outplayed in every aspect of the game and Rosenior himself exploded after the match. The manager no longer shielded his players, denouncing a performance that was “unacceptable on every level” and admitting he was “in shock” and “so angry”. A brutal assessment that illustrates the depth of the rift in a dressing room in disarray.
Unprecedented since 1912
In the aftermath of the debacle, the English press went into overdrive. The tabloid *Daily Mail* described a team that was completely adrift and openly questioned the manager’s future. “How much longer can this go on?” the paper asked following “a fifth consecutive defeat without scoring”. In a particularly scathing remark, the daily suggested that “to say this Chelsea side is completely lost under Liam Rosenior would be an insult to that famous team which has suffered so many disasters”. The atmosphere in the London stands reflected this anger. The paper notes that highly abusive chants rang out after Brighton’s second goal, with supporters clearly chanting “Fuck off, Rosenior”. For the Daily Mail, the question for the club’s hierarchy is now simple. “Do they trust Rosenior to get them out of this situation, or do they think he has lost control of this squad?”
The tone is just as harsh elsewhere in the British media. The Sun claims that Chelsea’s performance could “sound the death knell for Liam Rosenior’s reign”, whilst the away fans had already delivered their verdict well before the final whistle with the same furious chant directed at their manager. The Daily Mirror goes so far as to describe a “soulless” team and a total humiliation, arguing that “when supporters lash out with such ferocity, there is often no turning back”. Even the more measured analyses are relentless. In the Guardian, the match is described as “another dark chapter in the Rosenior saga”, whilst the paper highlights that Brighton now represents “a model of responsible management that Chelsea has failed to emulate”. One sentence perhaps sums up the situation best. “Chelsea looked woefully poor and were torn apart by an opponent brimming with energy and creativity.” A chilling conclusion for a club that, until recently, was aiming for the pinnacle of European football and now finds itself on the brink of implosion.
Real Madrid players booed by their own fans; Vinicius and Endrick don’t want Neymar
A difficult return to Madrid for the Real Madrid players; Vinicius and Endrick don’t want to see Neymar back in the national team, and Hansi Flick wants to stay at Barcelona – find the latest news from the European sports press in your Foot Mercato press round-up.
The Bernabéu shows no mercy to its players
“Forgive us,” reads the headline in AS this morning. In a sombre atmosphere, Real Madrid secured the three points against Alavés, 2-1, a joyless victory that feels like a plea for forgiveness. Mbappé and Vinícius scored. The Frenchman did not celebrate and the Brazilian even apologised to the stands, which alternated between boos for Eduardo Camavinga and utter indifference. This end to the season is dragging on like a long ordeal for Arbeloa’s men, mourning a La Liga title all but lost. Faced with the obvious disconnect with its fans, the Bernabéu seems to be looking forward to nothing more than the final whistle of this failed campaign. Kylian Mbappé’s popularity rating is rather low in Madrid at the moment. Just before half-time, he was booed by the Madrid crowd after missing a big chance. Earlier in the match, he had already been targeted. He can at least take comfort in the fact that he wasn’t the only Merengue booed by the crowd tonight, as Vinicius Jr was also booed, and even more loudly than his French teammate.
Neymar is not universally popular in Brazil
“The Brazilian contingent in Madrid doesn’t want Neymar,” reads an article in the inside pages of *Sport*. Neymar Jr’s potential inclusion in the 2026 World Cup is turning into a national drama in Brazil, dividing public opinion as much as it is splitting the Seleção dressing room. With Carlo Ancelotti due to make a decision on 18 May, Real Madrid stars Vinícius and Endrick are reportedly unhappy at the prospect of a return for an out-of-form “Ney”, who was booed at Santos and is seen as a disruptive influence on the current pecking order. For Endrick, the former Parisian is a direct rival for the false nine role, whilst for Vinícius, his return would threaten his new status as a marketing and technical leader.
Hansi Flick lets slip details about his future
On the eve of facing Celta Vigo, Hansi Flick declared his desire to extend his Blaugrana adventure until 2028. He stated that Barça will be the final stage of his career. The German manager, in perfect harmony with the club, has tied his fate to two dreams: lifting the Champions League trophy and inaugurating the new Camp Nou. Focused on a second consecutive La Liga title, Flick refuses to let up despite the lead in the table. The 61-year-old manager is already planning for the future and is making the summer transfer window a priority, a window that will shape the Catalans’ ambitions in their quest for the Champions League.
