Chelsea’s FA Cup semi-final loss to Manchester City has drawn criticism from former Blues star Ruud Gullit, who described the team’s performance as ‘horrible.’
Gullit also singled out Mykhailo Mudryk for failing to capitalize on a free-kick opportunity in stoppage time.
‘There really is a lack of quality,’ Gullit told The Sun. ‘You see that in the important moments, when the pressure is on. Then they can’t pass the ball quickly enough, taking an extra touch every time, so that it’s too late when they finally play the pass.’
Gullit believes that Chelsea’s struggles are due to a lack of quality in the squad, despite the club’s significant spending on new signings since Todd Boehly’s takeover in 2022.
‘If there was a moment when they could beat City, it was on Saturday, because you could see they were f***ed, they were gone,’ Gullit added. ‘They were making mistakes they wouldn’t normally make because they were tired.’
The result ended Chelsea’s hopes of lifting any silverware this season and leaves them languishing in ninth place in the Premier League, 27 points off leaders Arsenal.
Gullit’s criticism adds to the growing pressure on Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino, who has overseen a disappointing campaign so far. The Blues will face Arsenal later this week in a crucial Premier League clash, and Gullit has urged the team to improve significantly to achieve future success.
