Furious Rosenior questions Chelsea's desire

Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior said his team’s performance was both “indefensible” and “unacceptable” as he faced angry chants from his own supporters for the first time.

The chants began when Chelsea fell 1-0 behind at the Amex Stadium, with the visitors having barely registered an attempt on goal, before they eventually succumbed to a 3-0 defeat on Tuesday night.

It was a worrying display and a further dip in performance given Chelsea did not mount a shot on goal until the 40th minute and were error-prone defensively.

Chelsea extend an unwanted run of five consecutive defeats without scoring, their worst such sequence since 1912.

It played out in front of influential co-owner Behdad Eghbali and the club’s sporting directors on the south coast, where Rosenior began his coaching career.

As a result, questions will grow over whether the Englishman can continue in the dugout in the long term, with a last chance to save the season to come in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley against Leeds on Sunday.

In response to questioning about delivering such a poor display, Rosenior said: “It was unacceptable in every aspect of the game, unacceptable in our attitude. I keep coming out and defending of the players.

“That’s indefensible, that performance tonight. The manner of the goals we conceded, the amount of duels that we lost, the lack of intensity in the team. Something needs to change drastically right now.

“I think the players as well need to have a look in the mirror for what they put in. You can talk about tactics, tactics come after the basics. Having more courage to play, winning duels, winning headers, tackles, conceding terrible goals. That was an unacceptable performance tonight.”

Seven points behind fifth-placed Liverpool, having played a game more, Chelsea’s Champions League hopes look in tatters and there are questions about whether the head coach, the players or the fans are on the same page.

Rosenior’s remarkable interview – the best quotes

“I don’t feel there’s a disconnect between me and the players.

“We work very closely with them in training, in individual meetings and team meetings. We are giving everything to the players.

“There is a lack of spirit and a lack of belief, which can create that perception. I can’t argue with that at the moment because the run we’re on is unacceptable and that performance definitely was as well.

“It’s very soon after the game and I’m an emotional person, but that was unacceptable – unacceptable. We lost 80% of duels and didn’t win a single header.

“Tonight was not [about] tactical. This was about desire, spirit, courage and I did not see enough of that tonight.

“It is accountability. I have defended the players at times when it was the correct thing but I can’t defend that performance. It doesn’t represent this football club, it doesn’t represent anything I ask from the group and that has to change.

“I feel numb I’m so angry. Something needs to change drastically right now. The professionalism wasn’t there

“We need to look in the mirror. I need to look in the mirror. The general attitude, spirit, determination was lacking a part from maybe three or four of the 11. That is nowhere near enough for this club.

“Whether you’re playing at this elite football club or any football club, to even be accused of throwing the towel in is unacceptable. That’s all I’m going to say. I’m hurting.

“We need to make the right decisions for the team ahead of a massive game on Sunday and we’ll do everything we can to turn it around.”

How bad is it for Chelsea?

Chelsea have lost five successive league games without scoring for the first time since November 1912
Their overall five-game losing streak is their longest in the Premier League since November 1993
Across each team’s past nine games in the Premier League, only Tottenham (2) have won fewer points than Chelsea’s five
Chelsea have just one win from their past nine matches
The Blues are now without a clean sheet in any of their past 12 Premier League games – it is only the second time the Blues have had as long a run in the competition.
Chelsea’s xG in the first half against Brighton (0.04) was lower than they had in any of Enzo Maresca’s 114 halves of Premier League football as Chelsea boss.
It was also the longest they have gone into a Premier League game this season before attempting their first shot (41st minute).
Only West Ham (15) have conceded more goals from corners than Chelsea (11) in the Premier League this season, with 11 the joint-most for the Blues in a campaign in the competition (level with 1994-95).