In the 18th round, the Blues suffered a 1-2 home defeat to Aston Villa, marking two consecutive league matches without a win. After 12 rounds, Chelsea still sits second in the table, just six points behind Arsenal, but December has been a nightmare—only 1 win, 3 draws, and 3 losses in the last six league games, dropping them to fifth place, level with Manchester United and trailing even low-point Liverpool by three points. The slump is alarming.
This poor December form has seen Chelsea slide from title contenders to a top-four scramble, while Aston Villa’s comeback has pushed them from chasing fourth place to challenging for the title. Fans have pointed fingers at head coach Maresca, criticizing his chaotic in-game substitutions and even calling for a managerial change. The Club World Cup triumph may have masked his tactical and situational weaknesses.
Ironically, Chelsea’s squad should be strong on paper—with Premier League’s top defensive midfielder Caicedo, creative attacking midfielder Enzo, and a fully fit captain James. If the Blues end the season empty-handed again, some stars may consider leaving, as top players are always chasing championship glory.
