Chelsea suffered their sixth consecutive Premier League defeat, losing 1-3 to Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge on 4/5. This result, which saw home fans booing, was particularly surprising as Nottingham Forest had made 8 changes to their starting lineup to conserve energy for their Europa League semi-final second leg against Aston Villa on 7/5.

The loss dropped Chelsea to 9th place with 48 points, 10 points behind 5th-placed Aston Villa with only three rounds remaining. This effectively eliminates their chance to qualify for the Champions League. Should Aston Villa win the Europa League and finish in the top 5 of the Premier League, the 6th-placed team would secure a Champions League spot. Chelsea currently trails Bournemouth, who hold that 6th position, by 4 points.

Commenting on the situation on Sky Sports, Carragher expressed his shock: "This is shocking. Chelsea has five to six top players but lost to Nottingham Forest's B-team. Less than 12 months ago, they dominated PSG," he said, referencing Chelsea's FIFA Club World Cup 2025 victory. Carragher highlighted a critical lack of cohesion: "There's no connection between the players and the coaching staff, nor with the fans."

Chelsea players show frustration during their 1-3 loss to Nottingham Forest in round 35 of the Premier League at Stamford Bridge, London, England on 4/5. Photo: AFP

Carragher attributed Chelsea's problems to their top management. The BlueCo consortium's takeover in 2022 initiated an unprecedented spending spree in English football. Over the past four years, the club has spent approximately 1,5 billion pounds (more than 2 billion USD) on player acquisitions. The total number of new signings under BlueCo, including deals for next season, has reached 55 individuals, with 45 players having made at least one first-team appearance.

This spending has coincided with significant coaching instability, as Chelsea has employed five official head coaches under BlueCo: Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca, and Liam Rosenior. Rosenior, for instance, signed a long-term contract until 2032 but was sacked after just three months.

"In some ways, this is good for football," Carragher further stated. "It shows that football isn't just about spending money, buying players, and constantly changing. What's important is cohesion, and they don't have that. Chelsea right now looks like a fractured club."

Coach Calum McFarlane reacts during the match. Photo: Chelsea FC

At Stamford Bridge yesterday, Chelsea started poorly, conceding two goals in just 15 minutes. In the second half, Taiwo Awoniyi scored again for Nottingham Forest, with Chelsea only managing a consolation goal from Joao Pedro in injury time.

Interim coach Calum McFarlane described the first 15 minutes of the match as "unacceptable," a phrase his predecessor Rosenior also used after a 0-3 loss to Brighton, a result that cost him his job.

"I'm truly disappointed with the performance and the result. We didn't reach our usual standards," McFarlane stated. "In the first 15 minutes, we played well below expectations. The early goals were a shock, and we couldn't recover."

Despite the setback, the English manager remained optimistic: "The players are still motivated and want the best for the club. We will try to win all remaining matches until the end of the season."

Chelsea's remaining three Premier League matches are against Liverpool, Tottenham, and Sunderland. They will also face Man City in the FA Cup final at Wembley on 16/5.

Hong Duy (according to Sky Sports, Telegraph)