LONDON: Chelsea recorded their worst record in 33 years after losing 1-3 at home to Nottingham Forest last night.
The defeat saw the London club lose six consecutive league games for the first time since 1993.
In fact, things almost got even more embarrassing when Chelsea almost recorded six consecutive league defeats without a goal for the first time in the club’s 121-year history before Joao Pedro scored with a scissor kick in the 93rd minute.
With their form continuing to decline, the only relief for Chelsea fans at the moment may be the fact that there are only three games left in the season and they are not facing the threat of relegation.
The Blues’ poor performance has also been worse than Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers since mid-March.
Chelsea looked sluggish in every position with a blunt attack, a midfield that failed to dominate the game and a defense that was too fragile when they lost to Vitor Pereira’s Forest.
Chelsea were also dealt a blow when young winger Jesse Derry was rushed to hospital as a precaution after suffering a head injury on his league debut, while goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was also taken off after a head-on collision.
Cole Palmer also failed to convert a penalty when Chelsea were trailing 0-2.
When Taiwo Awoniyi scored Forest’s third goal in the 52nd minute, angry cheers erupted at Stamford Bridge with supporters targeting criticism of the American consortium that owns the club.
Since taking over four years ago, Chelsea’s owners have spent more than £1 billion on new players.
Hopes were rekindled after Chelsea won the Club World Cup last summer and the UEFA Conference League, but that confidence was shattered following a decline in performance since being beaten 2-5 by Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 on March 11.
The decline also caused Liam Rosenior to lose his position just three months after replacing Enzo Maresca.
Despite reaching the FA Cup final against Manchester City on May 16, Chelsea are at risk of finishing the league season in the bottom group.
They are now just five points above Leeds United in 14th place, the club’s worst ever position in the 1993-94 season, before they are scheduled to travel to Liverpool next.
Failure to qualify for any European competition could also have a major impact on the finances of the club, which has just reported the largest annual pre-tax loss in English football of £262.4 million.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher says the connection between Chelsea fans, players and management now seems to have disappeared.
“In one sense, it’s a good thing because it proves that football is not just about money, buying players and endless player exchanges,” he told Sky Sports.
“It’s about team spirit and Chelsea don’t have that at the moment. They look like a broken club.”