by Brentford ultimately had a Chelsea support team that had enjoyed a two-decade run of success that was unprecedented at all but a few clubs – and many of them are finding it extremely difficult to adjust to the current reality.
When Brentford were promoted to the Premier League in 2021, Chelsea won their second Champions League under Roman Abramovich. But when Yoane Wissa’s free-kick gave Brentford a second-half lead, Chelsea’s traveling side wondered if they could claim supremacy in west London any longer. The image that followed was not the image that the private equity billions that financed the single most expensive buyout of a club in the history of the game would have hoped for.
They chanted for Jose Mourinho and Roman Abramovich, but the personal attacks on Todd Boehly and Mauricio Pochettino were most impressive. Boehly has been less prominent as a joint owner of the club than he was when the takeover first took place in May 2022 and his consortium partner Behdad Eghbali is ultimately in charge at Stamford Bridge. But first impressions last and Boehly’s profile remains the one Chelsea fans turn to – in the bad times, and in the not-so-bad times.
Until Axel Disasi came up with a late equalizer it was proving to be the kind of defeat that makes managers really uncomfortable.
What Chelsea fans called Boehly probably goes without saying. “F— off Mauricio” was the chant aimed at the former Tottenham manager, although he said he could not hear it during the game and was only informed after the final whistle. The Argentine, who dolefully mentioned it was his 52nd birthday in his post-match press conference, responded as optimistically as he could.
“Someone asked me ‘Do you feel the love from the fans?'” he said. “It’s not. What will they expect? Between the training staff and the coach and the fans you develop your relationships by winning games.”
It’s been a terrible week for Chelsea, after Gary Neville’s live judgment on Sky Sports went viral following a young Liverpool side’s victory in the Carabao Cup at Wembley. The late winner in the fifth round of the FA Cup against Leeds United was a relief but it never stops for Pochettino. He is opposed to any rebuilding at Chelsea and would admit that his players are getting out of hand.
Coupled with their lack of confidence, their break this week, until Monday’s game against Newcastle, will be crucial. Pochettino switched to the three-man defense he abandoned earlier in the season just, he said, to protect his tired midfielders. He said that both Enzo Fernández and Conor Gallagher were tired but they could only afford to replace the former. He did not say much about his options in reserve.
“We don’t have the opportunity to renew the players in a key area,” he said “That’s why I helped them with another goalkeeper.”
Brentford were transformed after half-time and Thomas Frank said Ivan Toney, Yoane Wissa and Christian Norgaard had addressed their team-mates. There is no doubt that the team has been struggling recently and there were some alarms in the fourth against West Ham last Monday. But they pushed higher in the second half and were more direct. Chelsea’s defense was there to be tested.
The second goal in particular, from Wissa, was one of the best of the season. The ball was in an odd position and he could only make a perfect overhead kick with his athleticism and great technique. Before that full-back Mads Roerslev was in the box when Disasi and others failed to reach the ball. Brentford’s equalizer completely changed the mood. There were boos at half-time at the embarrassment of Frank, who said he would like to speak personally to those responsible.
Frank was keen to point out that Pochettino had changed Chelsea’s playing style this time. Chelsea, he said, had scored three goals in their first four games and then four in their last 21. Chelsea were also a long shot from behind. “We’re the best high-pressure team in the league,” Frank said. “If I was [coaching] against us I would go far every time.”
Chelsea’s first goal was well taken by Nicolas Jackson at a moment in the game when it looked like he would never score. He tried to get past Mark Flekken earlier and didn’t particularly manage to finish, being flagged later. His goal was a header from a good deep cross from Malo Gusto. Disasi’s headed equalizer would be much the same, this time delivered by Cole Palmer’s left foot. Palmer played well in those minutes when Chelsea were desperately searching for an equalizer and Pochettino, among others at the club, will be very grateful for his arrival.
