Frank Sinclair Issues Stark Warning Over Chelsea's Disciplinary Crisis
Former Chelsea defender Frank Sinclair has delivered a stark warning to current manager Liam Rosenior, claiming that the club's ongoing disciplinary problems could prove fatal in the race for Champions League qualification this season. Sinclair believes that unless Rosenior can address what he describes as a "lack of self-control" among players, Chelsea risk missing out on European football's premier competition.
Crucial Points Dropped Against Burnley
The warning comes after Chelsea dropped two costly points last weekend when Zian Flemming's injury-time strike secured a 1-1 draw for relegation-threatened Burnley. The Blues had been in control of the match until Wesley Fofana's second-half sending off allowed Scott Parker's side to work their way back into the encounter and find their equalizer.
While Fofana's dismissal marked the first red card under Rosenior's management, sending-offs have proved a constant Achilles heel for Chelsea over recent seasons. The club is currently on course to record the Premier League's worst disciplinary record for the second time in three seasons, with their six red cards this campaign representing the highest total of any side. Everton sit second with four red cards.
Sinclair's Analysis of the Discipline Problem
"I've seen this sort of thing happen in football at various different clubs where you just go through a phase where players are getting booked a lot, players are getting sent off a lot," Sinclair told Metro. "Obviously, there'll be team meetings where this will be brought up and individual meetings, I guess, with the manager and certain individual players if it's a recurring offence by a certain player."
The former defender emphasized the tactical consequences of poor discipline: "If we want to win games, you make it an uphill battle in an instant of a game when a player gets sent off. And long-term as well, if players are getting yellows regularly, they're going to miss games later on in the season, which will be a problem when it comes to that race for the top four."
Rosenior's Defense of Chelsea's Record
Speaking after the draw with Burnley, Rosenior defended his team's disciplinary record: "Our discipline since I've come in, which is what I only speak on, has been very good. That was an unfortunate red card for Wes; he stepped in on a challenge. You're going to get red cards. It's too many, for sure. But in my time with the group, I think our discipline record has been very good up to now."
Sinclair acknowledged that some red cards might be unlucky but maintained his concern: "Sometimes it's unlucky, but when you look at the recent red cards of Chelsea, it has been a little bit of a lack of self-control. So I'm sure he's touching on that with the players."
Analytical Approach to Solving the Problem
The former player suggested that modern analysis systems could help identify the root causes: "I've been in dressing rooms where it's happened before and players speak to players and say, come on, but you can even break it down now with the analysis systems that football clubs have got. You can break it down and try to work out why these things are happening. Is it because of the defensive shape and players relying on last-ditch tackles and stuff like that? You can break it down in analysis to help the players as well."
Crucial Fixtures Ahead for Chelsea
Chelsea currently sit fifth in the Premier League table but face a testing run of games over the next six weeks. This weekend's trip to Arsenal is followed by a visit to Aston Villa in midweek, with matches against Manchester City and Manchester United looming on the horizon.
Despite the challenging schedule, Sinclair believes that facing top opponents could actually work to Chelsea's advantage: "My thought, if I were in the Chelsea camp, is your destiny's in your own hands playing these big games. I've been a player and you don't have to get up for those big games. The games that I worry about is the teams that are potentially looking at trying to stay in the league, that are in relegation battles."
He elaborated on this perspective: "Those are the ones that players can switch off and think there's an easy three points here, and really not turn up on the day. They can be difficult games. But when you're playing against Arsenal, Aston Villa, Newcastle and teams like that, you know how important these games are. And if you win those games, then you're putting the destiny in your own hands."
Sinclair concluded with a positive outlook on the challenging fixtures: "I would look at it that way. I'd rather play the teams around us than hoping for them not to get a result. Do it yourself. So I'm sure they're really relishing the number of games they've got, because those teams will look at Chelsea as really tough games as well."
