The Arsenal FC goalkeeper expressed his surprise that Chelsea FC’s crisis has continued for such an extended period of time, despite the Blues’ retaining all their key players and adding a few more to the squad
Petr A?ech made the controversial move from Chelsea FC to fierce rivals Arsenal FC in the summer transfer window, and has since contributed to the Gunners’ solid defensive record, keeping 6 clean sheets in the opening 12 Premier League games.
The Czech Republic international spoke of his surprise at seeing his former club’s struggles continue for such a long period of time, despite the Blues’ effectively strengthening their Premier League winning squad.
“I was surprised to see their suffering” — Petr A?ech
The Premier League champions have just 11 points from their opening 12 games — their worst ever start to a Premier League season — and the former Chelsea FC shot-stopper told Czech weekly magazine TA?den (via Daily Mail) that he was surprised to see the Blues’ suffering continue.
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“It makes me surprised,” said the 33-year-old. “It’s a team that six months ago won the league. Players stayed there, the coach added more to his liking. It is very hard to believe that the club is in such a state.
“I was surprised to see their suffering at the beginning of the league, but I was even more taken aback by the fact that the crisis still continues.”
Departure of players like A?ech could be a factor
The one thing that’s noticeably different about the Chelsea FC squad this season is the apparent lack of leaders — both on the pitch, and in the dressing room. The obvious exception is John Terry, but players like Petr A?ech and Didier Drogba, who achieved an enormous amount of success with the club, were also crucial members of the squad in terms of their role as leaders and role models.
Their departures will likely have affected the team, and their absence is keenly felt now more than even before by the Stamford Bridge faithful — at a time when the club have had problems on and off the pitch, with stories of dressing room unrest and player revolts frequently filling the back pages of England’s dailies.
