
Chelsea's
3-0 defeat at Newcastle was as bad a performance as the Blues have put out,
says Jamie Redknapp, who also does not believe Antonio Conte will be at the
club next term.
Goals from Ayoze Perez (2) and Dwight Gayle sealed 10th place for Newcastle,
but Chelsea finish fifth, outside the top four for just the third time in 16
years having won the Premier League last season.
Redknapp singled out midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko for criticism, and with
just under a week until the FA Cup final against Manchester United, the Sky
Sports pundit was surprised the stand-in players didn't put in a better
display.
He said: "They were so poor, that's as abject as a performance as I've ever
seen, especially when people are playing for places in an FA Cup final team
next week.
"Bakayoko didn't break sweat, I didn't see him sprint once to the ball, and
it was a big opportunity for him today. Ross Barkley at times tried, but it
just wasn't his day.
"Newcastle wanted it more, it's just as simple as that. Jonjo Shelvey, Mo
Diame were dominant in midfield, and I felt sorry for N'Golo Kante. He was
on his own in that midfield, he had no support whatsoever.
"Everything about Chelsea's performance today was so poor. When the fans
have travelled such a long way, to see a team performance like that, now
somehow he's got to lift the team and get them ready for a cup final, and it
isn't easy to just switch it on and off in football."
Conte said after the game he is committed to the club, but speculation
surrounding his future has been rife for many months.
Redknapp noticed Conte's body language in recent months has changed, and he
would be been "amazed" if he started next season at Stamford Bridge.
"For Conte, I'd be amazed if we see him on the touchline for Chelsea next
year, he just looks like he wants to get away now," Redknapp said.
"It's difficult because last year was one of the best Premier League
performances to turn that team around, it was amazing,
"But this year, selling Costa for Morata, that hasn't really worked, and
replacing Matic with Bakayoko, that certainly hasn't worked. They have been
weakened.
"And we've seen slowly but surely that the manager has become overcome with
the situation, he's not his normal self. Normally you see him on the
touchline leading from the front, he's the one signalling all the pressing
actions you want from a manager.
"But you can even see now he looks like a beaten man. Does that mean he
goes? It certainly doesn't mean he's a bad manager if it doesn't work out
here, that's Chelsea's model and it works for them."