‘Genuine concern’ at Chelsea as first-team squad make alarming verdict over new signings

Frustrations are growing inside Chelsea after an alarming form of just two wins from 17 games in all competitions.

Graham Potter has retained the backing of co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali despite losing 1-0 to bottom-of-the-table Southampton on Saturday afternoon at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea were booed off by the Stamford Bridge crowd which Potter understands and accepts the criticism from supporters who are becoming increasingly disgruntled over the recent form which sees the Blues in 10th place in the Premier League.

Talks were held, led by technical director Christopher Vivell, on Tuesday at their Cobham training ground to discuss and address the current problems.

The players, surprisingly to some, were given Sunday and Monday off ahead of their London derby against Tottenham Hotspur this Sunday in north of the capital.

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The Athletic have now offered insight into the Chelsea mood, which Ben Chilwell has previously revealed as “flat”, as the Blues look to turn their form around.

After £600 million was spent across the summer and winter transfer windows, Chelsea’s squad has over 30 players however some of the players who were already at the club prior to the new arrivals.

It remains early days, reports The Athletic, but not everyone in the squad is convinced the new signings are all up to Chelsea standard, regardless of their price tags

There is also suggestion that ‘there is, however, an understandable feeling that the new ownership’s high-profile acquisitions will be given priority when it comes to minutes on the pitch between now and May, at the expense of those who are deemed less central to the project moving forward’.

Following the big transfer spend, it will have repercussions this summer with a squad overhaul expected at the end of the season.

However, The Athletic report that this is now ‘genuine concern’ that many homegrown players will be sold to balance the books, which could affect morale between now and the end of the season.

For now the club remains together, but if results continue to dwindle and Chelsea fall further down the table, the mood could quickly drop and leave, another, big decision on the hands of the hierarchy less than a year after they bought the club.