Graham Potter acknowledged that Chelsea’s disappointing 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest demonstrated their lack of consistency, which threatens to end their chances of qualifying for the Champions League. Sunday at the City Ground, Raheem Sterling gave Chelsea the lead in the first half.
However, after the break, Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier brought the game level, and Chelsea was fortunate not to suffer an embarrassing defeat as a result of Forest’s prolonged dominance in the second half. After losing six of their last seven league games, Chelsea is currently eighth in the standings.
In the race to finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League, the Blues are seven points behind Manchester United, which is in fourth place.
“We should be more predictable. “It would be a mistake to think about what could happen in five months because we have a long way to go.”
After replacing Thomas Tuchel, who had been fired, Chelsea manager Potter is beginning to face criticism as the initial optimism surrounding his move from Brighton begins to wane.
On Boxing Day, Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Bournemouth was supposed to give fans hope for a better 2023.
However, despite the fact that it is undoubtedly far too early for Potter to be concerned about losing the first high-pressure position of his career, the 47-year-old needs to see an increase in results in the new year in order to avoid putting Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly in an awkward situation.
Chelsea skipper Cesar Azpilicueta added to the gloom when he said: ” We have lost too many points since the start of the season, and we are far from where we want to be.
Despite Forest’s three losses this season, which put them in third place, coach Steve Cooper will be encouraged by his team’s second-half rout of Chelsea.
The alleged homophobic chanting of home supporters, which was denounced by LGBTQ groups, was Forest’s only negative aspect.
Kepa Arrizabalaga made a good save to spare his teammates’ embarrassment when Brennan Johnson raced clear of Marc Cucurella and Thiago Silva to put Forest in front early.
Forest comeback If Chelsea got lucky that time, Potter’s team had an even better chance when they took the lead in the 16th minute.
Willy Boly, a Forest defender, deflected Christian Pulisic’s cross toward Kai Havertz, causing the ball to loop onto the crossbar and bounce down perfectly for Sterling, who was unmarked, to score from close range.
The England forward’s sixth goal in all competitions since his close-season move from Manchester City was his first in the league since August.
Yet, Chelsea’s most memorable half-predominance immediately blurred after the stretch.
After Johnson accelerated onto Morgan Gibbs-White’s pass and fired a vicious shot, Kepa made an excellent save to save Chelsea.
Chelsea was on the ropes and Gibbs-White was inches away from a balancer when he met Ryan Yates’ pass with a pleasantly coordinated strike that cannoned off the bar and bobbed to somewhere safe.
Forest’s pressure paid off in the 63rd minute, as Chelsea seemed strangely subdued in the second half.
Boly outjumped Pulisic to send a corner goal in Aurier’s direction. From five yards out, Aurier volleyed through Kepa’s legs with deft control of his chest.