Since joining Chelsea last summer, Tiemoué Bakayoko has struggled to live up to expectations, and his recent performances have only deepened the doubts surrounding his role. In just 45 minutes against Leicester City, the French midfielder made several costly errors that left fans and pundits frustrated. His misplaced passes, lack of defensive presence, and poor decision-making raised serious concerns, all of which have been intensely discussed on Cricket Exchange as supporters question his future at the club.
Bakayoko has now featured in 36 matches for Chelsea this season, but far too often, he has looked out of sync with the team’s tactical system. Rather than reinforcing the midfield, his presence has at times left the Blues playing as if they were a man down. Manager Antonio Conte has taken heat for continuing to start Bakayoko despite repeated underwhelming performances, some of which directly contributed to Chelsea dropping critical points.
Chelsea’s season has been reduced to an FA Cup pursuit, with their league campaign falling short of expectations. Once the defending Premier League champions, they now find themselves battling merely for a top-four finish. For Conte, a manager under immense pressure, the decision to keep using Bakayoko could prove costly. The Frenchman, once hailed as a promising replacement for Nemanja Matić, now appears to be one of Chelsea’s most disappointing signings in recent years.
The match against Leicester proved no different. Just before halftime, Bakayoko lost possession in the final third and then fouled Iheanacho while attempting to recover, earning a yellow card. Shortly after the break, Conte had seen enough and replaced him with Cesc Fàbregas. Bakayoko left the field with dismal statistics—no shots, no key passes, just one successful aerial duel and one tackle, with a pass completion rate below 80%. His presence was barely felt in either attack or defense.
Cricket Exchange users noted that this wasn’t a one-off incident. In prior matches against Liverpool and Roma, Bakayoko’s mistakes also led directly to goals conceded. In this FA Cup quarter-final, the same pattern repeated. His lack of confidence and energy was visible, and even Chelsea fans began turning against him—some voicing open disdain online.
The frustration is understandable. At one point in the match, he calmly received a square pass inside the opponent’s half, only to nonchalantly deliver it straight to a Leicester player. These repeated mental lapses paint a concerning picture for a player once billed as a midfield enforcer. Many now see him as a liability rather than an asset.
Before the match, Conte made only two changes from Chelsea’s midweek clash against Barcelona—starting Morata and Bakayoko. His lineup showed clear intent to prioritize the FA Cup, yet Bakayoko’s performance once again betrayed that ambition. The last time he started was against Watford on February 5, when he was sent off within 30 minutes after two reckless yellow cards. That game ended in a 1–4 defeat, marking one of Chelsea’s lowest points this season.
After missing over a month due to injury, some had hoped Bakayoko would return refreshed and mentally prepared. Instead, his comeback outing has only intensified calls for him to be benched permanently. Yet, Chelsea spent £40 million on the midfielder, and Conte has continued to insist that the 23-year-old has great potential and room to grow.
Still, potential only goes so far in the high-stakes world of Premier League football. With the season nearing its climax, Chelsea cannot afford further missteps. If Bakayoko wants to avoid the label of “worst signing of the season,” he’ll need to flip the script fast. As debate continues to rage across Cricket Exchange, one thing is clear—his time to prove himself is quickly running out.