One triumph at Stamford Bridge in its last 10 games. That is where Chelsea Football Club are at the moment. On a sunny Saturday afternoon in west London, Mauricio Pochettino’s Blues looked like the same old team fans have been accustomed to over the last year or so. Loads of possession. Toothless in attack.
There is simply zero connectivity in the areas of the pitch that mattered the most. No matter how much money the ownership seems to spend, finishing product is consistently absent from the equation. The stability of the Nottingham Forest backline is something that cannot get overlooked. Forest captain Joe Worrall along with Willy Boly were sensational in the backline for the away side.
Patience is key, especially at the early stage of this project. That is not an excuse for that kind of display. The lineup was predictable, and even with Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke making somewhat of a difference late on, Forest had Pochettino’s attacking approach completely figured out. Steve Copper’s set-up with five in the back out of possession caused hesitancy by the forwards and midfielders donning the Chelsea blue. It leaves a whole lot to ponder until the west Londoners take the pitch again on September 17 away at Bournemouth. Here are three of the players that disappointed at the Bridge in the west Londoners’ second defeat in four contests.