Two Chelsea players have chosen to deactivate their social media profiles following harassment from supporters.
Chelsea, currently positioned in the tenth spot in the English Premier League, is encountering challenges as Mauricio Pochettino strives to optimize the extensive squad provided by co-owner Todd Boehly.
Since assuming ownership from former owner Roman Abramovich, Boehly has overseen a spending spree exceeding £1 billion.
This substantial investment has brought in notable players like Raheem Sterling, Enzo Fernandez, Wesley Fofana, and Moises Caicedo, among others.
In their recent match, Chelsea suffered a resounding 4-1 defeat at Anfield, narrowly escaping a more severe result due to Darwin Nunez’s lack of clinical finishing.
The Uruguayan hit the woodwork four times, including a missed penalty.
Later this month, Chelsea is set to face Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool again in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium on February 25.
Despite the potential for silverware, fans are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the team’s performances, considering the significant investment in transfers over recent years.
As frustrations escalate, fans have directed their displeasure toward the players, resulting in two crucial members of the first-team squad deactivating their social media accounts, with X (formerly Twitter) being one of the platforms affected, owing to the abuse they received from fans.
Ecuadorian midfielder Caicedo and Argentinian World Cup winner Fernandez are the two players who decided to distance themselves from social media.
Fernandez, who joined from Benfica in a £103 million deal in January 2023, and Caicedo, who sealed a £100 million switch from Brighton and Hove Albion last summer, have both been targets of fan dissatisfaction.
Looking ahead, Chelsea is slated to face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday in their next fixture, as Pochettino and his squad aim to return to winning ways in the Premier League.
The pressure is mounting on the team to deliver results and justify the substantial investments made, with the Carabao Cup final offering a crucial opportunity for redemption and appeasing disgruntled fans.