It is likely a combination of both factors, as the lack of a clear tactical identity often breeds the frustration that leads to a fractured dressing room. When a team fails to register a goal across five matches, it suggests the players have stopped trusting the system, which creates a vacuum that toxic narratives and internal leaks easily fill. While injuries can explain some of the instability, the complete collapse in performance points to a manager who lost the ability to get his core tactical ideas across to the squad. In the high-pressure environment of a club like Chelsea, ownership rarely tolerates a disconnect that deep, meaning the sacking was probably viewed as a necessary reset rather than a knee-jerk reaction. Ultimately, the blame should be shared, but the manager always carries the burden of keeping a squad united and purposeful, regardless of the limitations within the roster.