Chelsea were hit by an unusual off-field controversy ahead of their heavy defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion after team news was leaked online via Marc Cucurella’s barber.
An image posted on social media shortly before kick-off appeared to reveal that Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro would miss the match through injury.
The post, which was later deleted along with the account, included the caption claiming the information as an ‘exclusive’.
Neither player was named in the matchday squad, confirming the leak’s accuracy and raising fresh concerns within the club about internal information being shared externally.
The incident came ahead of a difficult night on the pitch, with Chelsea suffering a 3-0 defeat that extended their poor run.
The result marked their fifth consecutive league game without a win, during which they have also failed to score, representing their worst run in over a century.
Manager Liam Rosenior was visibly frustrated after the match and did not hold back in his assessment of the performance.
“It was unacceptable in every aspect of the game,” Rosenior said. “Unacceptable in attitude – that performance tonight was indefensible.”
Rosenior also acknowledged his own responsibility, stating that ‘the buck stops with me’ while calling for immediate improvement from both staff and players.
He warned that anyone unable to cope with the pressure of representing Chelsea ‘should not be here’, underlining the growing tension around the club.
The defeat further intensified frustration among supporters, with many of them voicing their discontent throughout the match and displaying protest banners.
Rosenior acknowledged the supporters at full-time, appearing to apologise after another damaging result.
The leak adds to a pattern of similar incidents this season, with Chelsea having previously experienced team news emerging in the media ahead of key matches.
While Rosenior downplayed earlier leaks as part of modern football, the latest incident has raised renewed questions about internal discipline and information control.
Chelsea now face increasing pressure to arrest their slump, with performances and off-field issues contributing to a challenging end to the season.
