Former Chelsea captain Gary Cahill has said the club feels like a “wounded animal” after a tough defeat under coach Liam Rosenior. He believes that winning the FA Cup is essential to turn their season around.

The team’s recent 3-0 loss to Brighton was particularly distressing, marking the first time since 1912 that Chelsea has lost five games in a row without scoring a single goal. This defeat allowed Brighton to move ahead of Chelsea in the standings, putting them in a better position for European competition next season.

As the pressure increases on Rosenior before the FA Cup semifinal against Leeds this Sunday, Cahill, who has won the trophy twice with Chelsea, has some concerns.

He said, “Leeds is probably looking at this situation and thinking, ‘We’re up against a wounded team here; we have a chance in the semifinal.’ Chelsea is going into this match against Leeds, and while they should be excited about the opportunity to reach the final, they’re currently feeling the weight of their struggles.”

Cahill added that confidence and momentum are crucial in sports, and the atmosphere in training may not be very positive given recent results. The next few days will be tough for both the coach and the team as they try to lift their spirits and find the energy needed for the semifinal.

He concluded that winning the FA Cup is now essential for Chelsea to save their season and that they need to make some serious improvements.

Rosenior, who faced criticism from many fans who attended the match, was genuinely upset with how his team performed at the Amex Stadium, where they were outplayed by Brighton’s players, including Ferdi Kadioglu, Jack Hinshelwood, and Danny Welbeck.

When asked if this was his biggest disappointment as a coach, the former manager of Strasbourg said it definitely was.

“Absolutely. What we showed today was completely unacceptable, especially in terms of our attitude.

“I usually defend the players, but tonight’s performance is tough to justify. We let in too many goals, lost too many battles, and didn’t show enough effort as a team, which is really concerning. We need to make big changes right away.

“There was a serious lack of professionalism. It was a really tough night—possibly the hardest I’ve faced at this wonderful football club and in my entire coaching career. Some of what I saw today is something I never want to witness again.