Analysis: Defeat a fitting finale
· Yahoo Sports
This was a fitting end to a chaotic season as Chelsea found themselves outfought, out-thought and looking ill-disciplined after their latest red card.
Everything that has gone wrong with Chelsea's season was crammed into 90 minutes.
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They were toppled by a team they were expected to beat, with Wesley Fofana the latest to get sent off.
It is remarkable to think that optimism had not been higher in years at Chelsea when the season began.
They had just won the Conference League and Club World Cup and had qualified for the Champions League under Enzo Maresca.
However, Maresca's falling-out with the hierarchy and decision to walk out on New Year's Day has proven pivotal.
His replacement, Liam Rosenior, lasted less than four months and departed after six defeats in a row without scoring, while interim replacement Calum McFarlane failed to win the FA Cup or qualify for Europe.
It was just two wins in 13 league matches under the Blues' final two head coaches of the season, turning likely Champions League qualification into mid-table nothingness.
The decline has left players like Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella criticising their own club while even captain Reece James said earlier this week that "stability is key".
All involved are responsible for this group of players, assembled for £1.6billion over Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital's ownership, to achieve so little in their fourth season since buying the club in 2022.
A return of 52 points is the fifth-lowest total Chelsea have had in the Premier League era.
Chelsea not only missed out on their minimum pre-season goal of qualifying for the Champions League, but this is now the second time in four seasons under the BlueCo ownership that they have failed to qualify for Europe.
At least the campaign is over for angry supporters, and the appointment of Xabi Alonso offers some optimism, with both fans and players seemingly able to get behind his incoming arrival on July 1.
Chelsea need stability, but at such a low ebb, with reduced transfer budgets and need to slim down the squad, Alonso will need patience.