James Maddison labelled Tottenham Hotspur's relegation-threatened campaign an "embarressment" after defeat at Stamford Bridge, and who can blame him for venting his frustrations?
The England playmaker has only just returned from an injury that kept him from making a single competitive appearance under Thomas Frank or Igor Tudor, but he's enjoyed two substitute appearances in recent weeks and will hope to play a part against Everton on Sunday.
However, it's unlikely that the 29-year-old is fit to play a full 90 after such a serious ACL injury (two, technically), leaving Roberto De Zerbi with a tough choice on Sunday, the most critical match in Tottenham's modern history.
Why Maddison needs to start for Spurs on Sunday
Maddison is not at fault this season, having missed the lion's share due to his long-term injury. However, he is the difference-maker in this side, adding impetus and energy as Spurs were trailing against Chelsea on Tuesday evening.
He might not be able to play the full 90, but the creative midfielder has to see some action. During 2023/24, his first season under Ange Postecoglou, Maddison created 2.4 chances per game.
Only one year ago, the Tottenham persuasion would say that their Europa League final against Manchester United was the most important match in several decades, a chance to end 17 years of searching for silverware.
Expected Goals (xG) is a metric designed to measure the probability of a shot resulting in a goal.
With the likes of Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus out injured, Tottenham's attacking options are thin, leading to so many appearances - six straight recent starts - for Randal Kolo Muani.
The French forward has been terrible this season, seemingly getting worse as the weight of responsibility builds upon his back. Could De Zerbi pull out a trump card on the final day of the season?
Spurs star should start over Maddison & Kolo Muani
Tottenham have fallen by the wayside this season - but they may yet pick themselves back up to beat Everton and avoid the maw of relegation into the Championship.
To help them achieve this, it's not Maddison but Archie Gray who could be in line to take Kolo Muani's starting berth on Sunday, even if that means De Zerbi is forced to unleash the 20-year-old in an unconventional role - after all, Gray has become accustomed to unconventional roles in the Premier League for Tottenham.
Big praise, but Gray has not started since De Zerbi's first game in charge, that 1-0 defeat against Sunderland on Wearside. But this is one of the biggest talents in the Premier League, projected as a "future £100m centre-midfielder" by analyst and Como scout Ben Mattinson.
Gray might not have the skillset to be a leading right winger, but he can do a job out wide, tenacious to a fault and with a commanding grasp of the technical side of the winger's game. In the Premier League this term, he has completed 33.3% of his crosses, putting him in the top quarter of Premier League players for that metric.
Conor Gallagher flattered to deceive against Chelsea, and Joao Palhinha was clumsy on the ball. However, both must start on Sunday, with De Zerbi' industrious central trio more likely to connect against a midfield such as Everton's.
That leaves Kolo Muani out on the right, right? Wrong. The Frenchman has been too poor of late, and starting him would be a risk. Maddison probably isn't fit enough, so why shouldn't Gray receive the nod. He's energetic and a natural-born leader, with plenty of experience in deeper wide positions for the Lilywhites.
It would be great if a fully-fit Maddison was in the right shape and form to start against Everton at the weekend, but that is not Tottenham's reality.
Against Chelsea, Kolo Muani put in a truly abysmal performance, and while Gray would be in an unnatural position, he surely has more in the locker than his struggling French teammate.