The free-spending Blues are in rotten form and changes are essential if the under-fire manager is to hold onto this job…
If certain reports are to be believed, Graham Potter's future as Chelsea manager hinges on the outcome of the club's next two games, at home to Leeds and Borussia Dortmund.
After the Blues suffered a rare London derby defeat to Tottenham on Sunday, it was claimed in certain sections of the media that Potter could be sacked if he fails to arrest his team's rotten run of form.
However, other outlets insisted that Potter retains the backing of the club's ownership.
Wherever the truth lies, the coach's situation is likely to deteriorate very quickly if Chelsea fail to take three points against old rivals Leeds and/or suffer a premature Champions League exit at the hands of Dortmund.
Potter clearly needs to make changes – and fast – if he is to save his skin…
GettyTweak the formation & unleash James
Since the World Cup break and Chelsea's subsequent January spending spree, Potter has moved away from playing three-at-the-back and predominantly deployed a 4-2-3-1.
Though the formation accommodates more of the Blues' oversubscribed attacking ranks, it simply hasn't worked to date.
Part of the problem is that flying wing-back Reece James – arguably the best player on the planet in his position – has been shackled in a deeper, more traditional right-back role.
The England international has looked out of sorts since returning from a knee injury, rarely posing his usual potent threat from out wide.
There is little doubt that his position is a contributing factor – a return to a back three with wing-backs could rejuvenate the team and also see James back at his devastating best.
In terms of centre-backs to step in, Thiago Silva's untimely injury poses a problem, especially with Benoit Badiashile not in the Champions League squad.
But Potter still has Wesley Fofana, Kalidou Koulibaly, Cesar Azpilicueta and Trevoh Chalobah at his disposal for Tuesday's crunch second leg with Dortmund at Stamford Bridge.
AdvertisementGettyGive Aubameyang a go
After a few weeks in exile, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was reintroduced to the fold on Sunday, coming off the bench against his old north London foes Spurs.
Perhaps it's a sign that the Gabonese frontman, the only established Premier League goalscorer in the entire Chelsea squad, is edging back towards the forefront of his manager's thinking in his desperate search for goals.
Although he was omitted from the Champions League squad and is, therefore, unavailable to face former club Dortmund, Saturday's home game against relegation-threatened Leeds presents a decent opportunity for Aubameyang to rediscover his touch.
As long as Kai Havertz and David Fofana aren't producing the goods and Aubameyang has been as "professional" as Potter insists he has been, he deserves a chance.
(C)Getty imagesOr exile the unwanted!
Alternatively, it could be time for Potter to show his ruthless side and cast aside those players he knows won't be at the club next season.
It has been reported that the head coach feels his bloated squad post-January is negatively affecting training, as he struggles to find ways to involve every member of his 31-strong group.
A simple, if cold-hearted, solution could be to root out and exclude the players who have no intention of being at the club beyond the summer anyway, and begin to build for 2023-24 with those who are, and will remain, fully committed to the cause.
GettyEnzo needs support
Enzo Fernandez's class has been clear for all to see since his huge-money January move from Benfica.
However, what is evident is that he can't do it all on his own, and Potter needs to work out who is the ideal midfield partner for the Argentine from his raft of options.
On recent evidence, Ruben Loftus-Cheek probably isn't up to the task, and Conor Gallagher's form has been patchy at best.
Chelsea have been boosted by the return from injury of both Mateo Kovacic and Denis Zakaria in recent weeks, and although the midfield might have a defensive look to it, either of them could supplement Enzo nicely in the centre of the park and perhaps allow the World Cup winner to be more adventurous.
Of course, there is another option too…