Chelsea Face Issues After Club World Cup Loss

Chelsea lost 3-1 to Flamengo in the Club World Cup after a disastrous six-minute spell in the second half, during which Nicolas Jackson was sent off for a reckless studs-up challenge on Ayrton Lucas just four minutes after coming on. This was Jackson’s second red card in four matches, and he publicly apologized to the club, teammates, and fans for his actions. Manager Enzo Maresca and defender Marc Cucurella emphasized Jackson’s need for improved discipline, and Maresca indicated the red card could result in a longer suspension. Despite the defeat, Chelsea can still qualify for the knockout stage with a positive result against ES Tunis. Former player John Obi Mikel called for the club to address goalkeeping and performance issues. The match underscored both disciplinary and tactical challenges for Chelsea ahead of their next fixtures.