Anger among Chelsea supporters is at an all-time high, with many feeling the much-promoted 'project' was flawed from the outset.
Since the takeover, each season has raised more doubts than belief. There has been no clear direction, no consistent progress – if anything, the team has regressed.
Yes, there have been moments to cling to. A Wembley final, along with Conference League and Club World Cup success, showed that Chelsea can produce on their day. But that is exactly the problem – it can only happen on their day.
Big results, like wins over PSG in the summer and Barcelona in the Champions League, have offered flashes of promise, but have also papered over deeper cracks. Consistency has been missing throughout.
After all this time and money spent, Chelsea should have been pushing for a Premier League title. Instead, they are once again scrambling for Champions League qualification – a competition they have shown they're far from ready to compete in. So, where to from here?
The squad remains inexperienced, particularly in defence, while constant managerial changes have only added to instability, with each appointment raising further questions on the club's ambitions.
Inexperience has been exposed at the highest level, where costly mistakes have repeatedly been punished – a reflection of poor squad-building.
Missing Reece James on a huge European night was a blow, yes, but it also highlighted a deeper issue: why is the squad still so short of reliable, top-level defenders?
After heavy investment, Chelsea were reliant on debutant Mamadou Sarr, an unproven Jorrel Hato, and Trevoh Chalobah, who's long been considered for sale, to keep one of the best attacks in the world at bay.
For many fans, the concern is simple: unless the model and strategy change, neither results nor belief will improve. But there is a growing feeling that too many mistakes at the top have already been made to expect a drastic turnaround.
Find more from Nina Hristova at Nina's Chelsea Corner
