Chelsea forced to change Stamford Bridge changing room after Liverpool complaint

Chelsea have increased the size of the away dressing room by knocking through into the press room

Chelsea have been ordered to expand the away dressing room at Stamford Bridge following complaints from several rival clubs. As reported by the Telegraph, Liverpool and Brighton are thought to have complained about the size of the facilities for visiting teams. Therefore, the Blues have been forced to increase the size of the changing rooms at Stamford Bridge in order to comply with the Premier League's stringent guidelines during covid times. Chelsea have increased the size of the away dressing room by knocking through into the press room, which has made the media area smaller, but has given opposition teams more space. While the home dressing room at Stamford Bridge has always been bigger than the away changing room, current Premier League rules state they have to be a certain size to help players and staff keep socially distanced in a relatively small space. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was absent for the Reds' trip to Chelsea earlier this month after he tested positive for covid, with Pep Lijnders taking charge of the match. It is reported that Liverpool complained about the size of the dressing room, while Brighton made a similar argument. During lockdown, the away team had to change in a health club behind the Matthew Harding Stand because the changing room and tunnel area is so confined. Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has previously moaned about the facilities, arguing that his team 'lose nearly three minutes' when playing at Stamford Bridge. "We lose nearly three minutes. Down the stairs, up the stairs, I don’t know where. You want to coach, you want to reorganise the team. You have this time and they are struggling to go in this quick," said the Austrian. Although the Premier League have relaxed rules in stadiums in recent months to let fans back in, it appears that the complaints made about Chelsea's away changing room has forced them into action.