Monday’s 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest was dismal. In many ways, it was worse than the 3-0 loss at Brighton, and the away end were more than willing to rub salt in Chelsea’s wounds.
A brace from Taiwo Awoniyi and an Igor Jesus penalty saw Chelsea succumb to a sixth straight Premier League loss on Monday, a home defeat with Chelsea only scoring a late consolation through Joao Pedro.
What’s happened to Marc Cucurella’s one-v-one defending?
He was terrorised by Nottingham Forest's Dilane Bakwa
TalkingPoints user on Marc Cucurella
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
It summed up Chelsea’s season. Pedro’s goal was magical; a piece of art. But it was an individual moment of brilliance, surrounded by disarray. That is Chelsea’s problem, a group of players unable to be a team.
Six straight losses have ended any hope that Chelsea had of Champions League qualification. Indeed, any hope of European qualification is in doubt. Forest fans teased Chelsea as their downward spiral continued.
What Forest fans sang as Chelsea slipped to another dismal defeat
The loss leaves Chelsea in ninth place, and as things stand, that means Chelsea will fail to qualify for any of the three European competitions. Beating City in the FA Cup final will secure a Europa League place.
FBL-ENG-PR-CHELSEA-NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images
But that is a big ask. Chelsea fans are fuming and rightly so, with more protests planned. It is a Chelsea side that the fans do not recognise, and that was summed up when half of Stamford Bridge left at 3-0.
Kieran Gill wrote in his latest Daily Mail piece that Forest fans sang ‘are you Tottenham in disguise?’ as their relegation-threatened side finally ended any concerns about going down with their 3-1 away win.
Typically, Tottenham have jumped out of the Premier League relegation zone after two wins in a row. Yet, it has been a horrible season for Chelsea’s rivals. If Chelsea’s players heard the song, it will have hurt.
Chelsea’s main problem was on full show against Forest
There are many problems at Chelsea right now, and they are not issues that can be fixed quickly. Hardly any of these results can actually be put on the shoulders of Calum McFarlane or even Liam Rosenior.
Trevoh Chalobah has been getting away it for too long 😑
This is alarming!
Two more goals were conceded from open-play crosses. Chelsea are now the worst side at defending from crosses in open play, conceding 15 Premier League goals. The defence has been appalling this term.
Levi Colwill’s return is great, but the pressure of sorting out the defence cannot simply be put on his shoulders. Chelsea need to sort that out this summer and bring in a defender who can organise Chelsea.
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