The Secret Footballer reveals details of the Chelsea crisis and the alleged ringleader of the revolt

Chelsea are in a bad way.

Jose Mourinho is facing up to one of the biggest challenges in his managerial career as The Special One has to turn around a season that has seen the Premier League champions slump to six Premier League defeats so far this season. Talk is rife that Roman Abramovich's finger might be tempted to press the red button that activates the trap door on another manager (we presume that's how things work with the the Russian billionaire anyway). But one person that seems like he knows what's going on at Stamford Bridge is the notorious Secret Footballer. Once again, his recent post is extremely interesting and here are the best extracts. The Secret Footballer on...

The root of the problem

Hanging physio Jon Fearn and club doctor Eva Carneiro out to dry in public. Managers pick on staff and players all the time in order to make a wider point to the squad and remind them who is in charge. But in this case, Mourinho could not have got it more wrong. Fearn and Carniero are loved at Chelsea. They are friends of the players because they interact with them on a daily basis and have no agenda other than their well-being. They are neutral territory.

The changing attitude of Chelsea players

What has happened since has been the total and utter abandonment of Mourinho and his philosophy by the players. Mourinho is bang to rights and the players know it, so they are now trying to make their point on the pitch. I have it on the best authority possible that the players have told the manager that they hate the way they play. They hate the way they have to sit back against inferior opposition; they hate the way they aren’t allowed to express themselves.

The ringleader of the revolt

I’m told that Cesc Fabregas is the leader of that mini-revolt. And as a player, you do things like this when you know you are in the right. You try your luck. Why not? It’s your way of saying to the manager: “You can either listen to us, and give the go ahead to change and give us what we want, or we’ll keep serving you up the same old shit and embarrass you.”

The potential outcome

If he has that Ferguson streak in him, and if Abramovich allows, I think you will see the most ruthless culling of Chelsea’s squad in at least five years, with fresh talent coming in. I think that the Chelsea board have written off this campaign and have accepted that they will start again next season. As long as Mourinho qualifies Chelsea for the Champions League, I believe that he will keep his job and that next season will be very different.