Chelsea players 'issue rallying cry' - but is it too little, too late?

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It certainly felt as though Chelsea's players had 'downed tools' when watching them inside Amex Stadium during their 3-0 defeat by Brighton in Liam Rosenior's final match in charge.

Many in the dressing room were unconvinced by their former head coach, citing his lack of authority and communication style, with Spanish-speaking players said to have particularly struggled under him.

However, there is nuance to the debate, with individual players experiencing different issues during that period.

Some may have downed tools, others appeared short of confidence and - perhaps most damningly - there are those who simply may not be good enough to meet Chelsea's perceived ambitions, especially as injuries forced certain players into more prominent roles.

There were also comments from players such as Trevoh Chalobah, who suggested fatigue was playing a part, having featured in the Club World Cup, not being given a full holiday and enduring a shortened pre-season.

Throughout their five-game losing run, Chelsea were also failing to take chances during matches in which they enjoyed long spells of dominance, notably against Manchester United, Everton and Manchester City.