It was supposed to be a season of revival, a fresh start under Enzo Maresca after another year of turbulence at Stamford Bridge. But as the final stretch of the campaign unfolds, many Chelsea supporters find themselves disillusioned — not just with results, but with the direction of the club.

Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin, speaking to the BBC, captured the growing frustration with brutal honesty.

“Why the fan frustration? There are a number of reasons,” Nevin began, before laying bare the key issues that have fractured the relationship between fans and manager.

“Right at the top is being told it was their fault for not making a good enough atmosphere at home games,” Nevin revealed, pointing to a particularly jarring episode that left supporters stunned.

“This is a lot to swallow, especially when many of the loudest fans have been priced out of attending and others feel they are unwanted in their own home, with wealthier supporters being more sought after,” Nevin added. Stamford Bridge is no longer the fortress of noise it once was, not due to apathy, but because many of the die-hards have simply been priced out. The push for a more corporate crowd has come at the cost of soul — and that hasn’t gone unnoticed by those who bleed blue.

On the pitch, the situation has done little to lift spirits.

“Then add in the many insipid performances since December, often delivered in a dull, predictable fashion,” said Nevin. Chelsea’s play under Maresca has lacked edge and excitement. Results have been inconsistent, and performances rarely sparkled. For a club that once thrived on intensity and inspiration, the current style has left fans cold.

“Enzo Maresca’s methods can look a bit dated, given the game’s successful clubs have pivoted towards a more cavalier style,” Nevin explained. In an era where the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid and even Aston Villa have embraced bold attacking football, Chelsea’s possession-heavy, risk-averse play has appeared more like a regression than a revolution.

What makes it worse is the scale of investment. “If your club has spent billions and had to sell off some of the assets to afford that spending, the fans expect style and swagger as well as real success,” Nevin said. Over £1 billion spent under the Todd Boehly regime, and yet Chelsea still find themselves scrapping for a place in the UEFA Conference League. There’s a growing sense that the club is going nowhere fast — and the fans are no longer buying into the project.

“It may all come down to Conference League success to save the season, even if top five is the real aim of the club and, crucially, the heartfelt desire of the club’s financiers and accountants.” That, in itself, says it all. The minimum target set by those at the top is top-five. But even that feels out of reach, and for a fanbase accustomed to Champions League nights, a third-tier European competition is scant consolation.

Even in victory, the tension remains. Last weekend’s dramatic comeback against Fulham — a moment that should have brought unity — ended with more questions than celebrations. Maresca didn’t even acknowledge the fans at full-time.

Instead, he walked off as boos turned to chants — having been subjected to derogatory chants at half-time. For a manager just months into the job, the disconnect is glaring.