Chelsea edged past Pafos with a narrow 1–0 victory on Champions League duty, but despite taking all three points, the mood among supporters was anything but celebratory. A late strike from Moisés Caicedo spared the Blues from an embarrassing result, yet many fans were left frustrated by another laboured performance against opposition they felt Chelsea should be dispatching comfortably, Softfootball reports.
The night also marked Liam Rosenior’s first Champions League game in charge of Chelsea, following his takeover from Enzo Maresca earlier this month. While the result itself represents a positive start on paper, supporters were quick to point out that performances, not just results must improve rapidly if Chelsea are to survive tougher tests ahead. For some, the win was a relief; for others, it was a warning sign.
Chelsea Fans Unimpressed Despite Late Winner
Several Chelsea fans made it clear that while three points were secured, the performance fell well short of expectations.
@vartico wasted no time expressing frustration:
Don’t try this again, we shouldn’t be struggling against these teams.
Others chose to focus on the match-winner. @kapa5 praised Caicedo’s leadership and composure:
Big players step up in big moments. 🏟️✨ Caicedo secures the points and shows exactly why he’s one of the best in the world right now. London is Blue! 🔵🦁
After the game, Chelsea shared via it’s official X handle, the post match reaction of the player of the game and Chelsea’s goalscorer on the night Moses Caicedo. Watch the video below:
Still, even fans acknowledging the win felt uneasy. @vct gave a measured verdict:
I’d say, victory at home but poor display. Chelsea were lucky with that goal but the overall performance was below par. More work needs to be done.
Concerns Over Attacking Struggles and Squad Balance
A major talking point among supporters was Chelsea’s inability to create and convert chances, despite the attacking options on the pitch.
@princekaizen was blunt in his assessment:
We won but we can’t be struggling to win against such small teams.
The coach needs to come up with a solution.
We are not Strasbourg Liam.
Some fans were even harsher. @abarahamifeayo did not hold back:
This Chelsea team is a scrap, they need to offload all the players!! What a shambolic performance.
The loaning out of Nicolas Jackson also came up repeatedly. @DrVaries, The Four-eyed argued:
Chelsea need to call Jackson back, he was never the problem. You can’t have Garnacho, Gittens, Estevao, Delap, Pedro, and Neto in the game and they can’t scrap a goal between them. Chelsea needs to invest in attack this January or summer.
Debate Over the Manager and What Comes Next
Some fans compared the current struggles to Chelsea’s recent domestic form and questioned whether the new setup is working.
@romfordtipster wrote:
All them Twitter fans wanting Maresca out because he played boring football… well look at the absolute state of this.
Battered by Brentford and can barely beat Pafos. Maresca would have smashed both of these sides, Rosenoir is way out of depth. Napoli will kill us next week.
Despite the criticism, others acknowledged that this was still Rosenior’s first European night with the club and that patience may be required.
Looking Ahead
For Chelsea, the 1–0 win goes down as a positive result but a worrying performance. While Liam Rosenior will be pleased to begin his Champions League journey with a victory, the reaction from fans shows that goodwill will depend heavily on visible improvement. Supporters are hoping this narrow escape can be a foundation to build on — not a sign of what’s to come.
With tougher European and domestic challenges looming, Chelsea will need more than late heroics. Performances must catch up with expectations — and fast — if the Blues are to convince fans that progress is truly underway.
