“Chelsea Had No Plan!” —BBC Pundit Slams Blues After Newcastle Defeat as Champions League Hopes Fade

Chelsea’s hopes of a top-four finish suffered a major setback on Sunday — and now questions are being asked about whether Enzo Maresca’s side even had a plan to begin with.

The Blues slumped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat away at Newcastle United, a result that has left their Champions League ambitions hanging by a thread. And according to BBC pundit Danny Murphy, the team’s performance wasn’t just poor — it was clueless.

Speaking on Match of the Day, Murphy didn’t hold back in his post-match verdict.

“Chelsea players and manager didn’t have a plan and they weren’t prepared – I’ll go as far as to say that,” he said.
“There’s a few reasons why – mentally, as a player you have to be prepared for the ferocious press you are going to get.”

It’s a brutal assessment — but one that many Chelsea fans might agree with after witnessing their team fall flat in one of their most important games of the season.

Chelsea went into the game level on points with Newcastle and knew a win would put them in a strong position with two games to play. But a slow start, followed by a first-half red card for striker Nicolas Jackson, left them in deep trouble.

Jackson’s dismissal proved to be a turning point — but Murphy believes Chelsea’s problems ran much deeper than one moment of indiscipline. The former midfielder slammed the team’s mentality and preparation, insisting they simply weren’t ready for the intensity Newcastle brought to the table.

Boss Enzo Maresca admitted after the match that Jackson must “learn” from the incident. But with only two games left this season, learning curves are not what Chelsea need right now.

The Blues must now beat both Manchester United and Nottingham Forest if they are to have any chance of securing Champions League football for next season.

Jamie Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports, echoed Murphy’s concern and warned that Chelsea are now in a very tight spot.

“Chelsea have a big problem now,” Carragher said.
“They’ve got two games left and they need to win both to give themselves a chance.”

It doesn’t get much tougher than Manchester United at home under the lights on Friday night. And their final game against Nottingham Forest could turn into a must-win scenario if other results don’t go their way.

For Maresca, the pressure is now very high. The Italian has tried to rebuild Chelsea’s identity this season, but this defeat has raised serious questions about the team’s game plan — or lack of it — in the moments that matter most.

The Blues have spent big money and assembled a squad packed with talent, yet once again they find themselves looking disorganised and unsure of how to approach high-pressure games.

With Champions League qualification at stake, Chelsea now have no room for error. Two games, two wins — that’s the only way to silence the critics and salvage what has been a rollercoaster campaign.

The next week will define Chelsea’s season. But if they don’t figure things out fast, they’ll be watching Europe’s top competition from the sidelines.