Another weekend, another loss for Chelsea. Based on what we have seen in recent weeks, it is hard to imagine that this team will be able to qualify for the Champions League. That is the sad state of affairs at Stamford Bridge these days. They were able to make Europe's elite competition once and are now once again staring at a future without it. If that happens, it will mean that the Blues have failed to qualify in three out of four tries since the change of ownership.
Of course, the players and the coaches deserve their fair share of blame. But that is not Chelsea's biggest issue at this point in time.
Their biggest problem is the way the club has been run by the sporting directors under this new ownership. They have failed time and again to meet even the minimum objectives set by the fans, but show no signs of wanting to change things up or even make tweaks.
Every transfer window, they sign unproven talents, and once a fraction of them end up working out. Which signing from last summer has worked out? Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap and Jorrel Hato don't look like they will make it. Alejandro Garnacho has been average at best. Joao Pedro has had his moments, but looks like a squad player, not the first-choice number 9. Facundo Buonanotte does not even look like a part of Enzo Maresca's plans.
Chelsea's biggest problem is clear and it is not on the pitch
Yet, for all the failures we have witnessed over the past four years, there is likely not going to be any change in Chelsea's approach. They will continue to sign the same youngsters from around the world. None of them will be ready to come in and make a real impact. And this cycle will continue.
The manager himself has called out for more experience and certain signings. But those requests have fallen on deaf ears. Every time they fail to get a target of their own, there is the inevitable media briefing that the club is happy with the options they already have.
There is a certain arrogance about their methods, as if they know things that the rest of the footballing world has no idea about. One that is not backed by results or successes.
Soon enough, the few world-class talents that the club have, like Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo, will inevitably want to leave for teams that are capable of competing for the biggest prizes in football. And Chelsea will remain stuck in mid-table mediocrity unless they change their ways.