Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton is convinced manager Maurizio Sarri will be sacked in the wake of the demoralising 2-0 home defeat against Manchester United in the FA Cup fifth round.
The Blues had control for large periods of the first half after a slow start and created several decent opportunities, but some dismal defending saw them trail 2-0 at the break to two breakaway goals.
Hopes of a second-half revival soon began to fade as a side devoid of ideas barely created a chance against a well-organised confident United side and the team were booed off at the end with fans also singing for Sarri to be dismissed.
Sutton, who played for the Blues for one season in 1999-2000, said on BBC Radio 5 live: “This is Maurizio Sarri’s last game at Chelsea. He won’t survive. He’s done.
“He’ll get the sack for numerous reasons – things he’s said, that he can’t motivate the players, his inability to be able to adapt and change.”
Chelsea have dropped to sixth in the Premier League and are in danger of missing out on a top-four spot and Champions League qualification having lost to Arsenal, Manchester City and Bournemouth since the start of the year.
They could still reach Europe’s premier competition by winning the Europa League, and hold a 2-1 lead over Malmo in their last-32 tie prior to Thursday’s home second leg
And the Blues face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday but were dismantled 6-0 by the same opposition earlier this month.
Sarri, meanwhile, insisted he was unfazed by jeers from Chelsea fans during Monday’s defeat.
“I am worried about the result, not about the fans,” Sarri said during his post-match press conference.
He added: “Of course I can understand the situation. I understand our fans, because the result wasn’t really good.
“We are out of the FA Cup, so I can understand very well our fans. But I am worried at the moment about our results.”