Calum McFarlane names key Chelsea problem which Xabi Alonso must fix to challenge for titles next season | OneFootball

New Blues boss has already been told what should be top of his to-do list

Calum McFarlane believes Chelsea have enough quality in the squad to compete with Europe’s best teams, but admitted they must get a handle on their ill-discipline if they are to do so.

Chelsea were beaten 2-1 by Sunderland on the final day of the Premier League season and failed to qualify for Europe as a result.

Wesley Fofana was sent off after the break at the Stadium of Light, shown a second yellow card for a cynical foul on Wilson Isidor. It was Chelsea’s eleventh red card of the season in all competitions and their eighth in the league.

Tottenham finished the league campaign with the second-most sendings-off at four, half of Chelsea’s tally.

Marching orders: Wesley Fofana is sent for an early shower

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Speaking at full-time, McFarlane said dealing with Chelsea’s ill-discipline would be high on new manager Xabi Alonso’s to-do list.

“I think we are by far the team who has the most red cards in the league. I’m pretty sure if you look at Arsenal who won the league, I don’t think they had one red card.

Chelsea have drastically underperformed the value of their squad this season, finishing tenth in the league despite heavy investment to the tune of billions of pounds in the transfer market since BlueCo’s takeover.

Despite failing to qualify for any European competition next season, McFarlane was adamant that the team had the quality to get back to UEFA’s top table.

“This group has shown, when they’re at their best and when we’re in the right place, we’re match-ready across Europe.

“It hasn’t been seen enough throughout the year. It definitely hasn’t been seen enough in the second part of the season.

“But we have some real quality players, a new manager coming in who has a brilliant reputation in the game, and we have still seen flashes in the last month of what this team can do.”