Liam Rosenior must stamp out Chelsea problem before it's too late as 'experience' myth explained

The Chelsea players will have no one else to blame but themselves if they fail to qualify for the UEFA Champions League this season

Chelsea have become the architects of their own downfall, and Liam Rosenior needs to nip it in the bud before it's too late. The Blues are in grave danger of failing to qualify for the UEFA Champions League this season, having dropped seven points in the Premier League after receiving red cards.

Robert Sanchez was the first Chelsea player to be given his marching orders in the English top-flight this term. The 28-year-old goalkeeper was sent for an early bath during the clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford back in September.

Sanchez collided with Bryan Mbeumo just outside the box inside the opening five minutes. Enzo Maresca raised eyebrows when he took off Estevao Willian and Pedro Neto, as well as Cole Palmer, before the break, and the Blues went on to lose 2-1.

Trevoh Chalobah was dismissed the following weekend, during Chelsea's defeat to Brighton at Stamford Bridge. Enzo Fernandez broke the deadlock in the opening half hour, but the Blues squandered their lead after the Cobham graduate was sent off.

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Chelsea were issued their third red card of the Premier League season in October, when Malo Gusto made a rash challenge in the final minutes of the game. Fortunately for the 22-year-old defender, the Blues were 3-0 up and managed to hold onto their points this time.

The following month, Moises Caicedo was shown a red card following a late challenge during the clash against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. It was 0-0 at the time of the dismissal and, despite taking the lead through Chalobah just after the break, it ended all square.

Chelsea managed to make it through December without seeing red, but the floodgates opened in the new year. Marc Cucurella was sent off during the first half of the defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage in January; it was 0-0 at the time of the dismissal, and the Blues went on to lose 2-1.

Then, in February, Wesley Fofana got in on the action, receiving two yellow cards during the draw to Burnley at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea were 1-0 up with about a quarter of an hour or so to go, but conceded in the dying embers of stoppage time.

And, of course, Pedro Neto, who recently became the seventh Chelsea player to receive a red card in the Premier League this season. The 25-year-old winger was shown his second yellow card for a rash tackle on Gabriel Martinelli, with his first being for dissent.

Even though the Blues were trailing and didn't drop any points by definition, they came very close to equalising, even with just 10 men. Now, Chelsea will be without Neto when they lock horns with Aston Villa on Wednesday night in what could be a make-or-break clash in the race for Champions League qualification.

Interestingly, in four of the seven games in which Chelsea were shown a red card, they went on to drop points from either a winning or drawing position. Had the Blues held on to the result at the time of the dismissals in each of those four matches, they'd be seven points better off.

That would move Chelsea up to third in the Premier League, and just seven points behind Manchester City in second. Not to mention that in two of those seven games, where the result at the time of the red card was the same upon full time, the west Londoners could very well have gone on to win had they not been reduced to 10 men.

It's hardly a Premier League problem either. Chelsea have been shown two further red cards in the Champions League and the Carabao Cup this term. Joao Pedro was given his marching orders in stoppage time of a 1-0 win against Benfica and Liam Delap was dismissed at the end of the 4-3 win over Wolves, respectively.

Nine red cards for Chelsea players across all competitions. Rosenior needs to put his foot down otherwise the Blues are in grave danger of crashing out on all fronts...

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