Fernando Torres could become the Achilles Heel for Chelsea unless they decide to bring back Didier Drogba on a short-term loan or succeed in swooping on Atletico Madrid's Colombian star Radamel Falcao in January.
That is the general consensus of Blues fans frustrated by the constant failure of the Spaniard who gained little sympathy despite his wrongful dismissal during the controversial 3-2 defeat against Manchester United on Sunday.
Although the week has been overshadowed by referee Mark Clattenburg's alleged racist slur directed at John Mikel Obi and Chelsea's unprecedented complaint with FA against the Fifa official, Roberto di Matteo must be wondering how to offload his pound 50 million flop who has brought only misery to the club than attacking riches.
Nonetheless, the Italian's more immediate concern would be the number of goals they leaked during the two explosive encounters against Manchester United.
They were always playing catch-up against the Red Devils.
A David Luiz own goal gave United the lead after four minutes and Robin van Persie fired the visitors 2-0 ahead soon after in the Premier League clash as Chelsea missed their influential skipper John Terry serving a four-match ban.
Chelsea roared back with Juan Mata's free kick and a Ramires header either side of the interval to restore parity.
But Javier Hernandez came off the bench to grab a controversial 3-2 victory for United after the previously unbeaten hosts had been reduced to nine men in a tempestuous clash.
To their credit, United were on the ropes until Serbian right back Ivanovic was sent off just past the hour mark for bringing down Ashley Young and Torres shown a second yellow card.
In the League Cup clash four days later, Chelsea had to come from behind three times to overhaul United 5-4 after extra time.
It took Eden Hazard's penalty in the final seconds of normal time at Stamford Bridge to save the Blues from falling to a second successive 3-2 defeat at the hands of Alex Ferguson's side.
United led three times in the tie - through Ryan Giggs, Nani, and Javier Hernandez - and were pegged back by a David Luiz penalty and Cahill's header, before Hazard produced a third equaliser.
Chelsea then took control in extra time, with Sturridge and Ramires each rounding Anders Lindegaard to give Chelsea a two-goal advantage and Giggs' 120th-minute spot-kick coming too late to kick-start a United revival.
Although Chelsea avenged Sunday's defeat, Ferguson would not be overly concerned because United virtually fielded a second string side.
Ferguson made 10 changes to his United side, with Rafael the only player to start in both League and Cup games. Hernandez, who scored the controversial winner on Sunday, did start this time.
There were five survivors from the Chelsea side which started on Sunday's game, with Mikel and Juan Mata, being retained despite earlier reports suggesting they might be rested to avoid the psychological scars of the alleged racial slurs.
Di Matteo will not wish to dwell on some poor defending with Petr Cech gifting United's first when he rolled a goal-kick out to Oriol Romeu on the edge of his area, where the Spaniard was quickly pressured by Anderson and Giggs, and when the ball broke, Giggs stroked home for his first goal since February.
Chelsea were creating chances although their defence looked vulnerable against the pace and movement of Hernandez, Danny Welbeck and Anderson.
United restored their lead in the 43rd minute when Luiz was robbed by Rafael on the halfway line before Anderson picked out Hernandez's run through the gap at the heart of the home defence and the Mexico striker finished clinically with his left foot.
The home side drew level when Cahill headed home from Mata's corner.
Chelsea were again opened up when Nani exchanged passes with Anderson before clipping the ball over Cech to make it 3-2 in the 59th minute.
Chelsea responded impressively but their chance appeared to have gone until Scott Wootton barged into Ramires as the Brazilian was about to shoot, handing Hazard the chance to level and setting up a dramatic denouement.
The fact of the matter is Chelsea are nothing without their three musketeers Mata, Hazard and Oscar. United nearly beat them away twice away and with their kids a second time.
The bottom line is Chelsea can certainly do without a certain Torres.