Marc Cucurella’s barber appears to leak Chelsea team news before Brighton defeat

“It’s not the first time it’s happened, it won’t be the last time,” he said.

“I’m not talking in terms of me, I’m talking about any team or any club. These things happen. It’s disappointing, but I’m sure it won’t happen again.”

Rosenior was left furious as his team were dismantled by Brighton, suffering their fifth straight loss in the Premier League without scoring goal - their worst run of form in 114 years.

“It was unacceptable in every aspect of the game,” Rosenior said. “Unacceptable in attitude. I keep coming out and defending the players but that’s indefensible, that performance tonight. The manner of the goals we conceded, the amount of duels we lost, the lack of intensity in the team.

“Something needs to change drastically right now. We need to look in the mirror. I need to look in the mirror but I can’t keep coming out here defending some of the things we are seeing.

Liam Rosenior laid into his players after Chelsea’s defeat to Brighton (Reuters)

“We lost 80 per cent of duels. We didn’t win a header. Two of the goals came when we can head the ball, the basics of football, and we don’t. At any level, if you make those errors, you’re not going to win games of football.

“I haven’t criticised them up until now. I’ve defended them. They have deserved that. But I will tell the truth. I always come out here and tell the truth. And I blame myself as well. It’s not just blaming the players. I’m part of that process.”

The Chelsea manager’s future is now in doubt, with the club’s hierarchy holding a meeting on Wednesday over whether to end his time at the club just four months after his appointment.