Sulking Chelsea need brain surgery to fix glaring psychological flaw in their squad - and why Cole Palmer should stay at home for the World Cup, writes KIERAN GILL

Ralf Rangnick once said Manchester United required open-heart surgery to fix their problems while they too were loitering in sixth in the Premier League in April a few seasons ago.

With Chelsea now stranded in that same undesirable position themselves, Liam Rosenior has been kinder with his wording, though he is not suggesting something too dissimilar to Rangnick.

Chelsea do not need heart surgery, but brain surgery. The mentality is not there. One setback and the sulking starts. Robert Sanchez has a go at his defenders. Cole Palmer moodily takes the ball to the centre circle. Rosenior shakes his head. They can’t cope with complications, don’t deal with difficulties, and, ultimately, won’t win what they truly want until they do so.

Just look at this Manchester City loss. Chelsea had a fine first half, then they conceded in the 51st minute, the 57th and the 68th, one after another. Pep Guardiola even admitted to us afterwards the difference in the second half was not to do with ‘tactics’ but ‘mindset’. City had it. Chelsea did not.

The exact term used by Rosenior over the last week, when discussing what they want in this summer’s window, was ‘emotional stability’. Don’t have enough of it. Need more of it. As soon as.

It is a fair assessment, though Rosenior is not the first manager to highlight this as an issue.

Chelsea's unwanted habit of conceding goals in quick succession came back to bite them in their 3-0 loss to Manchester City on Sunday

Their young squad appears psychologically fragile, with even boss Liam Rosenior admitting they need more 'emotional stability' next season

Chelsea have broken records for having the youngest squad ever seen in the Premier League, and while the potential might be there in terms of talent, it can also leave them looking a little like boys playing men when tested psychologically.

With this approach to signing young players – many of whom have never played at a level as high as the Premier League before – they were always running that risk. It was clearly recognised as a potential issue too, hence why Willie Isa was brought in to work with their young group, with the hire from the world of rugby described as a ‘cultural architect’.

However, the fragility remains. They concede once, then again soon after. Against City. Against Everton, who scored in the 62nd minute then the 76th. Against Leeds, in the 67th then the 73rd.

In the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain take the lead with their third goal in the 74th minute at the Parc des Princes. Then PSG get a fourth in the 86th, and a fifth in the 94th, and with that, Chelsea are exiting Europe before a ball has even been kicked at Stamford Bridge.

In this particular loss to City, Estevao Willian received a caution for booting away the ball, entirely unnecessarily, after he had been flagged offside midway through the first half. The game was 0-0 at the time, but the 18-year-old Brazilian had hardly seen any of the action, and was frustrated. No club have received more yellow cards for dissent than Chelsea’s 16 in total this season.

So, it is expected that Chelsea will target experience this summer – players who are proven in the Premier League. The supporters are sceptical, adamant they have heard this tale before, but it is needed if this club are ever to get over this hurdle.

Chelsea are at risk of missing out on European football altogether, with Everton - who beat Rosenior's men 3-0 last month - among the chasing pack

There hasn't been much cause for smiles at Stamford Bridge lately - with Chelsea's own fans even ole’ing their own team’s passes while 3-0 down for the heck of it.

COULD CHELSEA REALLY END UP WITHOUT ANY EUROPEAN FOOTBALL?

While Arsenal fans are looking in the rearview mirror at City closing in on them from behind, so too should Chelsea be frightened of those lining up to overtake them.

Points-wise, Rosenior’s side are now closer to Bournemouth in 11th than they are to Liverpool in fifth in what will likely act as the final Champions League qualification place.

Chelsea have lost their last three Premier League games without scoring, by an aggregate of 7-0.

They have not kept a clean sheet in the competition since January 17. They are supposed to be chasing qualification for Europe's elite competition, but are at risk of not securing any form of European football, with Brentford, Everton, Brighton, Sunderland and Bournemouth all within touching distance and in better form.

Rosenior usually sticks around to applaud Chelsea’s supporters after full-time, whether they win, lose or draw.

Following this City loss, he made a quick dash on to the pitch to fulfil those duties, then headed directly for the tunnel.

It had been an embarrassing second half, culminating in Chelsea fans even ole’ing their own team’s passes while 3-0 down for the heck of it.

Cole Palmer (pictured with his former boss Pep Guardiola on Sunday) looks a shadow of his former self and in need of a rest

PALMER COULD DO WITH MISSING WORLD CUP...

We could hear the tunes blasting in the Manchester City changing room from the press room after full-time, and the victorious squad were listening to Just The Way You Are by Milky – the song adapted by their supporters in honour of Antoine Semenyo.

Semenyo played well, though Rayan Cherki was City’s best performer in my book.

While Cherki emerged for the second half with a ‘time to take over’ attitude, there was never any sign of Palmer taking this contest by the scruff of its neck.

Yet again, Palmer disappointed, and from a Chelsea perspective, you must begin to wonder whether him skipping the World Cup with England would be more beneficial. Maybe not for his country because we have seen what he can produce in big moments, but for his club.

Palmer has played an extraordinary amount of football. Right now, he appears a shadow of his former self, and, arguably, could do with a rest and a reset rather than spending another summer in the United States.