Chelsea’s senior squad has found a new low, suffering an embarrassing 3-0 defeat at the hands of their own Under-21s in what was supposed to be a routine training exercise.
Instead of sharpening their skills, the first team was schooled by a side featuring even some Under-16 players, prompting manager Enzo Maresca to scrap their scheduled day off in response.
The drubbing, which saw teenage forward Donnell McNeilly bag a brace, comes as Chelsea struggles to find form ahead of a crucial London derby against Tottenham on April 3.
Maresca had reportedly planned to give his squad a break before intensifying preparations, but after watching them get outplayed by the kids, he clearly thought better of it.
Chelsea’s recent post-international break history doesn’t inspire much confidence either. From a 5-2 home thrashing by West Brom in 2021 to a 4-1 battering by Brentford a year later, the Blues have turned sluggish restarts into an art form.
Even last season, they stumbled to a 2-2 draw with a relegation-bound Burnley side that played with 10 men for an entire half.
With key players like Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, and Nicolas Jackson hoping to return from injuries, Maresca will need his squad to find some urgency, fast.
If they don’t, Spurs could be in for an easy ride, and Chelsea’s downward spiral could continue.
