Chelsea news: 'Those players do not deserve to play for Chelsea' - Leboeuf's scathing verdict

Frank Leboeuf has joined the increasing chorus of disapproval surrounding a Chelsea broadside successful the throes of a crisis. The Blues stay winless and goalless implicit their past 5 matches — a dismal tally not seen since 1912 — and the France 1998 World Cup victor has pulled nary punches successful targeting 2 of their starring players.

For the ex-defender, the club's 2 grounds signings, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, deficiency the enactment required to correspond the Stamford Bridge club. The Argentinian has besides recovered himself astatine the centre of contention aft indicating helium would similar a determination to Real Madrid.

Leboeuf tears into record-signing duo

Fernandez's sanction was likewise linked with rivals Manchester City connected Thursday by The Athletic, a further proposition that the Argentinian could so beryllium heading retired of London.

Leboeuf besides argued that Chelsea's midfield is 1 of the team's main problems, contempt a combined £218m (€257m) concern successful the department. In his view, neither Fernandez nor Caicedo were capable to dictate the tempo against the Seagulls.

'We person been players and we tin see,' Leboeuf told ESPN FC. 'My erstwhile team-mate and compatriot Marcel Desailly 2 days agone said what we support connected saying what we person been saying. We bash not person leaders successful that team. We request a goalkeeper arsenic a leader, we request a centre-half, we request a midfielder.'

Leboeuf demands summertime clearout

The erstwhile defender besides drew comparisons betwixt the existent harvest and the idols helium shared a dressing country with betwixt 1996 and 2001. He believes today's players bash not admit the value of the Chelsea shirt, nor the work of starring the squad done delicate moments.

'Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez are not leaders. I'm sorry, I've seen leaders,' Leboeuf continued. 'I've played with Dennis Wise, I've played with Craig Burley, I've played with Roberto Di Matteo successful the mediate of the park. They were leaders. I don't adjacent speech astir defenders similar Marcel Desailly, Steve Clarke and up beforehand with Vialli, Gullit, Zola, those players who were palmy astatine my time, and I don't adjacent speech astir aft what we saw (under Roman Abramovich). But present capable is enough. Tthose players don't merit to play for Chelsea close now. They're not bully enough.'

'What tin beryllium changed now, I bash not know. But adjacent year, delight to the board, bargain leaders. Otherwise Chelsea volition ne'er beryllium the Chelsea we person known,' helium concluded.

With 4 rounds of the Premier League inactive to play, the Blues' hopes of reaching European contention via the home way could beryllium constricted to a spot successful adjacent season's Europa League. Chelsea present beryllium seventh connected 48 points, having been overtaken by Brighton connected 50.