Chelsea’s 114-Year Low: Boehly has burnt down the empire that Roman built

Chelsea’s 114-Year Low: Boehly has burnt down the empire that Roman built

Amid a plethora of figures who would mourn the current incarnation of Chelsea, perhaps one will feel frustrated more than once.

Roman Abramovich spent almost two decades transforming Chelsea. From the moment he ushered in a new dawn at Stamford Bridge in 2003 to his exit under a cloud 19 years later, Abramovich had only one objective: To win.

A team that had occasionally competed for trophies began to collect them with regularity. 21 major prizes were lifted under Abramovich, including twoChampions League titles. No London side had ever previously been European champions, and none have since.

Abramovich's fall from grace in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and subsequent government-enforced sanctions was an unceremonious end to his ownership.

Putting that enormous elephant to one side of the room, from a footballing perspective solely, the contrast between Abramovich's Chelsea and Todd Boehly's bumbling Blues could not be more stark.

Chelsea suffer worst run of results since 1912 after Brighton defeat

A dismal defeat at Brighton has all but ended Champions League hopes, and was a fifth straight league loss. Chelsea have failed to score in any of those games, the club's worst run of form for 114 years.

"In the basics, in the pride you should have in wearing the shirt, that was unacceptable," head coachLiam Rosenior ranted at full-time.

"I've defended the players, and I am accountable. I've always said that. But after tonight, I think the players as well need to have a look in the mirror for what they put in. We lost 80 per cent of duels. We didn't win a header. Two of the goals come when we could head the ball. At any level, if you make those errors and lack of engagement, you're not going to win games of football."