CHELSEA have failed this season by not challenging for the title, says club legend Gus Poyet.
The Blues smashed Burnley 4-0 on Saturday but remain third behind Liverpool and Premier League leaders Man City.
And former Stamford Bridge midfielder Poyet, 54, told Ladbrokes: “My opinion on Chelsea hasn’t changed.
“I thought at the beginning of the season that they needed to be title contenders.
“When you are the Champions League winners, and you then go and sign a striker for £90m, that means you need to challenge for the title – it’s really simple.
“We can’t make excuses, we can’t blame Covid, injuries or anything, Chelsea needed to be title contenders this year – that’s the bottom line. “
“It’s because of Chelsea, they cannot blame anyone.”
Despite a Prem title looking out of reach, the Blues have won the Club World Cup and are still in the Champions League and the FA Cup.
They lost in the Carabao Cup final on penalties, after Kepa Arrizabalaga came on for the shootout and blasted his penalty over the bar.
But Poyet laments the form of £97.5m striker Romelu Lukaku
The 28-year-old striker has been in and out of the Chelsea team in recent weeks, with Kai Havertz often preferred up top.
And the Uruguayan blames this on the balance of the side.
He said: “They boast many different kinds of players, but if I’m being honest, right now, when Mason Mount isn’t at his best, or isn’t playing, Chelsea miss creativity.
“They’re a little more predictable when Mount’s not on his game.
“I’d normally expect Kai Havertz to share some of that responsibility with Mason, but because of the problems with Romelu Lukaku, Havertz is playing up front, where we don’t really get to see him at his best.
“Their issue has been too many draws, and that’s why they’re so far behind Manchester City and Liverpool.”
Meanwhile off the pitch, the Blues face uncertainty over their next owner.
Bachelor Jamie Reuben, 34, could be the next club supremo.
And British tycoon and Chelsea supporter Nick Candy is said to be making a £2.5billion offer.