Brighton hand Chelsea fifth successive defeat to pile pressure on Rosenior

0:07This is the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. Thanks for joining us. Chelsea made a midweek trip to the south coast to take on Brighton on Tuesday. Here's how the game finished.

0:26And Chelsea are going backwards. well what a contrast as the two managers shake hands at the end Fabian Herzl as side on the rise a brilliant performance by Brighton it's a sixth win in their last eight Premier League games it takes them above Chelsea into the top six and so much to admire about it they could have scored even before the third minute when Ferdi Kadiyoglu gave them the lead they had to wait until the second half for the second Hinsherwood with his second Premier League goal of the season and then off the bench came Danny Welbeck to make it three but for Chelsea an historically bad run five Premier League games five top division games without a clean sheet without a goal and they went down with barely a whimper here at Brighton tonight their season continues to unravel they've got a semi-final up and coming at the weekend but on this sort of form you fear for them there there will be repercussions for this the fans are unhappy the players look like they don't really know where the answers lie and for Liam Rossini they're going to be a tricky few days ahead the tricky few weeks ahead until the end of the season that's Chelsea's side but for Brighton's side.

1:50Well, it's been a quite wonderful performance and their great run, Chris, goes on. Yeah, Brighton, the team brimming with confidence, absolutely brilliant. Bossed the game, three goals, and it was a stroll for them. It really, really was. European football on the horizon for them, but for Chelsea, the Chelsea fans will be thinking, these players, they chucked it. That's what they did. and you can blame the manager as much as you like but those Chelsea players have a lot of thinking to do and you wonder what's next for Chelsea and Liam Rossignor. No wins, no goals in five, no clean sheets in 12 and very little for Liam Rossignor to smile about.

2:36Final score at the Amex, Brighton three, Chelsea nil. It's a huge result for Brighton who move up to sixth in the league But for Chelsea, it's five straight league defeats with no goals scored for the first time since 1912. That is 114 years ago. Just how damaging, Gary, could that be for Chelsea in the hopes of European qualification and for Liam Rossini as well? I've said before, it was a huge game. I said they needed to win. They just got totally outplayed, totally outplayed. There's no positives that you can take from that game. I feel sorry somewhat with Liam, I feel the players let him down tonight but you know the stats that you just reel off and time and time again we're hearing things that are not pleasant about Chelsea in terms of the clean sheets in terms of not scoring goals, in terms of these records it's tough times ahead, you know these next few days coming into a massive semi-final at the weekend which now is pivotal, you know the FA Cup for this club they look fragile, they look low on confidence, they look fragile So, in all honesty, it was a difficult watch to be fair.

3:48And just watching the supporters, the Chelsea supporters, you can see just how disappointed, how frustrated the Chelsea players are. You can only imagine how Chelsea fans must be feeling, Steve. Well, them Chelsea fans won't accept that performance at all. When your back's up against the wall, and Gary, me and you have been in dressing rooms like it when there's tough times, you only get out of that by putting a shift in, by putting hard work in, by doing the hard yards. You can talk analysis, you can talk tactics, you can talk data, you can talk all that until you're blue in the face. You need to go out there and you need to put the work ethic in and that's the only way that's going to get this Chelsea team out of this.

4:23Yes, they've had injuries and they've had big players missing tonight, but you've got to take that on the chin. People that come into the fold, they have to step up and not one of them Chelsea players has done that this evening. Far too easy for Brighton this evening. They got off to a great start, yes, but they showed no lack of desire to get back into the team. Yeah, really, really disappointing from Chelsea. You try and find excuses, Steve, don't you? The likes of Jao Pedro, the likes of Palmers and, of course, the two top goal scorers. But there's no excuse to almost accept losing towards the end.

4:58I was watching the last 15, 20 minutes and I said to you, it almost seems like they're just accepting the fate. That's just the way the game played out. second to every ball just miles off it miles off it tonight We have to give credit to Brighton because this is a performance they'll be very very proud of Yep they knew that they were going to come up against a real vulnerable Chelsea team before a ball was kicked tonight that's the game plan there let's get out let's get intense you know really come out of the traps they've done that got a goal within three minutes and then from then on they just grew and grew and grew like we said there Chelsea made it easier for them on the whole this evening but full credit to Brighton and then now going into a real pivotal time of the season, full of confidence, scoring goals, keeping clean sheets.

5:39OK, well, we knew just how important this game was in terms of the table as well, because it means that Brighton have moved ahead of Chelsea into sixth place. Have a look at that. In a very, very good position for European qualification. And we were asking the question, what does this all mean for Chelsea? they move down to seven after that defeat against Brighton.

6:08Well, a massively disappointing night for Chelsea, but a really good performance from Brighton. Hugo up to sixth, looking for European qualification. We've got all the analysis next.

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7:08So Chelsea down to seventh, Brighton going up to sixth with a very, very big performance. And we look at these match stats and we thought maybe in the second half they might change things around. Chelsea changed the formation. They obviously made a couple of substitutions. But when you look at this, how damning is that? Yeah, hugely damning. And it tells the story of where Chelsea are at the moment. Really vulnerable, low on confidence. This is the one. This is the one for me. The distance covered. You know, I think it's been the story of their season. But like we said there, when times are tough, when your back's against the wall, you need to come out.

7:45That work ethic, it has to be there. That's the only way it gets you out of it. You know, then you start building confidence and a little bit of momentum. But we can see there you can take away, you could take out Cole Palmer, Esteveu and Gio Pedro two of them are your top goal scorers in the Premier League and that's going to hurt your expected goals and going forward but as a team and you're working hard that's damaging there for me in my eyes. It's not just the result tonight was it? It was the performance as well that went with it. I mean you're saying about no goals you're not going to score no goals when you have zero shots on target.

8:18The possession, the distance it shows that the Brighton players was covering more distance, running a lot harder today. Like I said, you were second to everything tonight. I was excited before the game in terms of a shift of formation because I said in recent weeks it's not really been working. I thought it was even worse. I thought that they couldn't play that system, the back three, the back five just wasn't working. They started the second half, first five, ten. Looks a bit more solid. Too easy to play against in terms of the goals they're conceding. It's far too easy. And Brighton were just so comfortable today.

8:49I bet they couldn't believe how easy and comfortable it was. Yeah. There's a lot of red on that page. There is. But also, when you look here at their last five, 114 years it's been since Chelsea have lost five in a row without scoring. It's really difficult to see how they're going to be able to pick up momentum when they're on this kind of run. Yes, momentum is the key word there. I think there was certainly positives from the Manchester United game of last in terms of them creating chances. When you're creating chances, you feel as though you're in the right direction. These are the remaining fixtures coming up.

9:23I mean, the Leeds game, this semi-final, I mean, Leeds would have loved that fixture coming out because they looked at Manchester City and gone, maybe not. Southampton are probably expected to beat them. They come up against Chelsea. They'll be watching that performance tonight going, we've got every chance of getting to an FA Cup final. And after that, Forrest fighting for survival. Liverpool have still got things to prove and play for. We know the position Spurs are in and Sunderland are also flying. I look at that, guys, and I'm thinking, I don't know where they could pick points up, especially with the sort of confidence that they're in at the moment.

9:55But like you said, Leeds tonight are probably watching this thinking, we've got a wounded animal here. We've got a chance in the semi-final, whereas Chelsea going into a semi-final against Leeds, no disrespect, with an opportunity to hit a final, they should be licking their lips, ready to go. But this is a bit of a wounded Chelsea squad at this moment in time. And you've been there, Steve, as well. Confidence and momentum is a big thing. So going in tomorrow's training, all of a sudden is not the same vibe as it is when you're on a good run or off the back of a good result. so it's going to be a tough few days for the manager and for the squad to galvanise themselves and get themselves fired up for this semi-final because this like I said the FA Cup now is a strong word a must to save the season in some ways but it needs to be a hell of a lot better than what it was tonight How does he turn things around now Liam Rossini after this performance?

10:41It's going to be very difficult you know he's picking up you can see there the body language they're after for me at the moment when I look at this Chelsea team, I don't see enough playing for now. I see a Chelsea team, and this is not all of them, and we would have been in dressing rooms as well when we see players like this. They're listening to all the noise from outside, you know, protests against the board, relationships between the fans and the team, relationship between the fans and the board. They're waiting for a change to happen. Now, whether that's going to be with the manager or a change of ownership, it seems like players are waiting for a change.

11:17They're waiting for a change. They're waiting for next season. Well, make a change now. I don't mean the manager. I mean as a player. Step up. You make the change. Be bold enough to go, look, the leadership group, whoever they are, galvanise. Shut the dressing room door. Have an in-house council. Have an in-house meeting and go, listen, the only people that can get out of this are us. That's what the fans want to see. That's what they want to see. As a Chelsea fan myself, I look at the season and I'm going absolutely miles off where they want to be and the project that Chelsea have got. But this is a different talking point as well because what you've just said there is correct and also that sometimes in difficult moments and difficult runs, you rely on experience.

11:56You rely on, which again has been called for in this young Chelsea squad, don't get me wrong. The bulk of this squad is very exciting, very young and ready to obviously build for the future. But alongside that, you're sprinkling some experience because in these tough moments, it's not just about experience on the pitch. It's about experience off the pitch. Like what Steve just said, It's about experience. How's Liam going to turn this around? He'll have his ideas, but also the players need to get together. And in certain times when I've been at the club, there would be a meeting in the changing room where the manager's not even involved.

12:27There would be players getting told. There would be truths being told in their meetings and the standards driven in the training sessions to turn this back around. And that comes with experience, which I think is lacking in this Chelsea squad. I heard the owner speak, obviously, and he touched upon maybe the philosophy changes slightly. And I do think that would be a big help. We've even had it in the past where, you know, the leadership group would get called in with a manager. Listen, what's going on? What's happening? What's the feeling in the group? This player's not pulling his weight. This player's not pulling his weight.

13:01Which would be down to the squad and down to us to get into them a little bit in training and to make sure they step up to the level. But them conversations would be had and also I feel would help the manager in these times. unfortunately at the moment because of the young squad you know there's a handful of players you might be able to rely on in that sense Enzo, Rhys players like that but there just isn't enough at the moment to turn it around and a lot of these young players are experiencing this for the first time the noise the pressure and I feel like that's what we saw tonight when I say like a fragile Chelsea team is I think because of that even top players struggle with confidence at times but experienced as players have been through so many scenarios, so many things in the game, they can help to get yourselves out of this.

13:47With a young squad, sometimes it's a bit tricky. And they do have a very young squad. When you're looking at this table as well, Steve, is sixth now really their only hope? Because as we mentioned before, Aston Villa, if they win the Europa League, but they finish fifth, it could go down to sixth and then into the Champions League. Yeah, I mean, it's a huge gap between, you look at 48 points, 55, a seven point there. And again, it's momentum. When you're in that dressing room and you're looking at games and you're going, is that three points? is that a draw you know momentum is absolutely key for them to gain seven points Liverpool to lose a few games as well it's a huge ask at the moment for Chelsea I think at the moment the way that the situation that they're in I think sixth place would be the one that they're going to be having to focus on OK well Brighton very much in this race then aren't they for European qualification let's hear now from two of the goal scorers tonight Ferdi Kadioglu and Danny Welbeck chatting with Johnny Phillips Ferdie, that was a fantastic win, a fantastic performance.

14:45Was that the level now? Is that the best level you've set so far this season? Probably, probably, yeah. The last weeks we were on a good flow. We had a difficult period, but after that, yeah, we're doing very well. And I think today we didn't let them breathe. Amazing game from everyone, every player. And we have to continue like this because we have some goals this season. It's a great way of saying it, not letting Chelsea breathe. It felt like you strangled them very early on as well. Was that the key to go at them early on? Yeah, we knew from the beginning that we have to play hard. Chelsea, of course, have good players.

15:22If you are tied to them, they can't do much. I think we did that amazing. Danny, you were watching on for much of it. It looked like a really fluid performance. What was your view of it from the bench for starters? Yeah, I think as Ferdie mentioned before, we started well. We got an early goal, which really put us in a great position at the start of the game. but I think everyone down to a man on the pitch was brilliant, winning their duels, fighting for the ball, winning second balls and everything. So it was a really good performance, really strong. It's good to get the three goals as well and a clean sheet, which is positive and it sets us up nice going into the last few games of the season.

15:57And the way you're coached, does it look like a team that can move around so quickly into different positions as well? We even saw JP Van Heek popping up, you know, right in four positions there. JP is an incredible player not only is he an incredible centre-back but he's got the ability to step into midfield to create things from the back and as you've seen today stepping into midfield and playing decisive passes as well so you've got to use your players use the strengths of them and I think the way the manager sets us up we always have a lot of different patterns where players are rotating I think when players are stepping forward with a ball there's a lot of options for them to play forward.

16:37Ferdi, how enjoyable is it to play in a team like this when you have those options to go forward and you're asked to attack and you're asked to do these creative things? Yeah, amazing. If everyone's playing simple and do the principles then we know we can play very well and we can beat every team. I think we showed that before and today we showed it again. And in terms of looking ahead for the rest of the season now Europe firmly in your sights? That's the goal at the moment. A few weeks ago it didn't look like that but now we are in amazing flow and we aim for the highest place. Danny, do you think it's a reasonable target that?

17:09I think it's reasonable for us to focus on the next game. As you see in the season, we've always had distractions that might take your eye off looking too far ahead. It's important for us to focus on the next game and that's why you're getting out of me, mate. Well said. Well, it was a great performance all round and you both scored a couple of great goals but Ferdi is the player of the match. Still the honours, Danny? Player of the match, mate. Brilliant. Keep it up, mate. Thank you, thank you. you got plenty of them so thank you well done guys thank you didn't want to give too much away there did you daddy well it was such a good performance from Brighton wasn't it and they really took control so early on in this game yeah look again you're coming up against a vulnerable Chelsea team and that was 100 % the game plan today let's get right out of the blocks let's put them on the back foot let's create a chance if we can early and they fortunately they got that you know they had a chance just before that and then from this corner I mean Chelsea make a real hash of it but Kadioglu there that was you know as you see he's highlighted there yep he's free at the back and it's a bit fortunate how the ball kind of just falls to him but it's why then as long as you get it on target you've always got a chance of scoring takes a deflection but Gary this header has to be cleared down doesn't it yeah it has to be spoke he there's a little nudge there but he needs to be stronger and clear the ball from that area like you said just falls to Kadioglu and this was the best start for Brighton the worst start for Chelsea but we talked about momentum and you know Like I said, Brighton are coming into these games with momentum and belief.

18:36And that's the way they played tonight. This was a potential handball in the lead-up to the second goal. I want to say yes, but it's not enough in it. No, I don't think so. What do you think, Steve? I don't think it's enough in that. Listen, he hits his hand. It's obvious there. Is it on purpose? It bounces down. It ricochets. It hits his hand. But, you know, from there, yeah. That was not a great angle of it there. But I didn't think at the time that it was not enough in it. and again I talked about it's too easy to play to play through you know the 2v2 there Pasado trips slips gets waged off the ball however you want to say it next minute you're 2v1 and this is from a direct goal kick this is what I'm saying it's too easy to play against direct goal kick 2v2 next minute you're 2v1 it's in the back of your net it's too easy you're happy that you got the goal as well because you had a really good opportunity in the first off didn't he Jack Engelwood to score so he'll be pleased that he got on the score sheet Yeah, of course, he's got a great mindset, Jack, and that would have played on his mind, so it's for him to get another chance.

19:36And, you know, look, this is the third goal, and it really sums up the two teams there. You know, Chelsea had two attempts there to try and clear it. Brighton, they get to the byline, and it's obviously Danny Welbeck that's got there. But look, no real desire to go and win it once, twice. Look at Welbeck's there, just holding back, and this man is on absolute lanes. I was just going to say, let's have a mention about Danny Welbeck, by the way, this season. I mean, the age is out, the way he's performing. Yeah, best scoring season so far this season. Credit to him. He's been terrific. I think he should be in the World Cup.

20:04I think he should have a chance of going to the World Cup in terms of a replacement for Kane. It's something that goes on. Someone in fine form. That's what you want going into a tournament. I mean, fine form experience. He's doing all he can at this moment in time. And he, in terms of this season and his goal-scoring record. But, like I said, Brighton to a man tonight was fantastic. And they deserve the win. OK, well, it was a very good performance from Brighton tonight. Not the same, though, can be said about Chelsea. and there will be question marks over what does this all mean. For the rest of their season, there are still games to play for, but how much has that dented their hopes of European qualification for next season?

20:41All the reactions will come after this.

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21:23OK, well, it was a tough night for Chelsea, wasn't it? And also for Liam Rossini. This was him at full time after suffering another defeat in charge of Chelsea. Well, Brighton and Chelsea fans, you've had your say on your ratings for the players tonight. This is what you think for Brighton. Verdi Cadioglu with a top score. Robert Sanchez with a top score for Chelsea, who certainly made some very, very big saves tonight, didn't he? All right, then, let's hear from the Chelsea head coach, Liam Rossini. He's chatting with Johnny Phillips. It's another league defeat without scoring. In many respects, did that feel like the worst of the lot in terms of the performance?

22:02By far. By far, I was unacceptable in every aspect of the game. Unacceptable in attitude. I keep coming out and defending the players. That's indefensible, that performance tonight. The amount of the goals we conceded, the amount of duels that we lost, the lack of intensity in the team. And yeah, something needs to change drastically here right now. What have you said to the players? Why do you think they put that performance in? Why? 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 that we're seeing. Manchester United, genuinely the result wasn't there, felt we turned a corner.

22:41But the general attitude, spirit was lacking determination. Maybe three or four out of the eleven. That's nowhere near enough for this club. It's nowhere near enough. I can't come out and lie. I'll tell the truth. That was an unacceptable performance in every area. The start looked particularly difficult as well and the warning signs were there even before the goal. The goal was terrible. We have an easy header and we missed the header. The passage before the goal upset me even more. I think there were four or five occasions where we can actually show some more courage and quality and take the ball down and play.

23:15We just kicked the ball back to Brighton. that's not a lack of confidence or results not going our way that doesn't represent anything that I ever want to see and I won't ever see it again Does it feel like a lack of professionalism then when you cage it like that? The performance in terms of professionalism wasn't there it's a really really difficult night the most difficult night not even so far here at this magnificent football club in my career because some of the things I was witnessing today, I never ever want to see again. And the fact that it didn't get better as well, was that equally concerning as the game were on?

23:55There was a little patch at the start of the second half when you restructured, but after that, it looked like they were throwing the towel in to some degree. Yeah, you have to ask the players. I never ever want to see anyone. Whether you're playing for this club, at this elite football club or at any football club, to be even accused of throwing the towel in, it's unacceptable. yeah that's all I'm going to say I'm very I'm hurting I feel numb because that doesn't represent me that doesn't represent the football club in any way and that has to change starting with the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday If you look at the distances covered not just in this game but in every single Premier League game this season Chelsea have been second to their opponents that goes back way beyond your time here as well do you think that's a sign of a deeper malaise?

24:41I don't want to go into that right now. I have my own thoughts, I have my own feelings, I have discussed in depth about how this club, regardless of who's the manager, what needs to happen at this football club, for this club to be where it needs to be, for this club to be where it needs to be. It's not about me. It's about this football club. Chelsea represents fight and spirit, determination, and I was lacking in every department this evening. You didn't seem to have too many options on the bench as well. I know Ghan actually came on and made a little bit of difference for a bit, but there were seven players who were 21 or younger.

25:11Again, this goes back before your time. Do you think it shows the wider issues with the way the squad is structured given how much has been spent here? We've had injuries. It's not an excuse. It's a reality. But that team that we put out today was far better in terms of its engagement to the game. For me, I will pick a team on Sunday that represent the club in the correct manner. Does Sunday become a huge game now because you're slipping down the league and it looks like you're falling out of the European places? Does everything point to Sunday? Will that defined the entire season? This was a huge game and we didn't hit the mark anywhere near.

25:46Every game between now and the end of the season is a huge game and it needs to look like that in the way that we play. And what can be done between now and Sunday? Because it does look a squad bereft of ideas in that sense and bereft of effort. That's your opinion. I have to sit with the staff and we have to make sure we get it right for Sunday. Appreciate your time. Thank you. Thank you. Well, an incredibly honest interview there from Liam Rossini a couple of things picked up on there unacceptable indefensible they need to look at themselves in the mirror something needs to change what did you make of it?