‘i Don’t understand’ – National media blast Graham Potter’s Chelsea in Nottingham Forest draw
Graham Potter’s league performance is being scrutinized once more by Chelsea following a dismal start to 2023 as the Blues struggled to a draw against Nottingham Forest.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!As 2023 got underway, Chelsea’s league form continued to deteriorate as they were held to a 1-1 tie by Nottingham Forest. Raheem Sterling’s rebound goal sent the new year started to the best possible start, but the promoted team’s second-half assault paid off with Serge Aurier’s equalizer.
The lackluster second half that Graham Potter’s team played was a perfect representation of their entire campaign. It was terrible for the supporters to lose to an ex-Tottenham full-back, and the owners, who want to spend a lot of money on transfers, received a clear message when they were surrounded by a true relegation candidate.
The situation for the Blues doesn’t get any better as they still have to play Manchester City in both the Premier League and FA Cup as well as Liverpool before the month is over without Reece James. Drawing to Forest prior to this stretch of games hasn’t done much to relieve Potter’s strain, and it may become harder before it gets better.
Here is how the national media responded to Chelsea’s draw after taking all of this into account.
Chelsea manager Graham Potter says he is “concerned” about his team’s performance after they were held to a 1-1 draw in the Premier League by struggling Nottingham Forest. The Blues have only won one of their last seven Premier League games, and they are now seventh in the standings.
Raheem Sterling made the first move after the ball rebounded off the crossbar to give Chelsea the lead in the East Midlands. However, the Blues were unable to build on their advantage and were defeated just after the hour mark when Serge Aurier scored after the visitors failed to properly handle a corner.
The result puts the fourth-place Manchester United, followed by Tottenham, Liverpool, and Fulham, seven points ahead of the west London heavyweights. Potter’s efforts to qualify for the Champions League may become much more difficult given that his team’s next three games will include matchups against Manchester City and Liverpool.
In the Guardian
As Serge Aurier’s equalizer allowed Nottingham Forest to tie Chelsea for 17th place after they let a lead built by Raheem Sterling’s opening goal slip, Peter Lansley writes: “The final whistle was greeted with thunderous applause around an enthusiastic City Ground.
Chelsea has only won once in seven league games, against Bournemouth on Tuesday, as they head into a crucial week in which they play Manchester City twice. Todd Boehly, the co-owner of Chelsea, probably didn’t intend for Potter to surpass Brighton and tie for seventh-place Fulham on points when he hired the latter in September to take Thomas Tuchel’s place as head coach. Perhaps a better path to victory this season than Thursday’s Premier League home game against the champions is next Sunday’s trip to the Etihad in the third round of the FA Cup.
The fact that Chelsea only had one off-target attempt at goal against a Forest team that deserved their point more than anything for their obstinate bloody-mindedness is a harsh indictment of their attacking array of quality.
Weekly Star
Chelsea appeared to have a major World Cup hangover, according to Will Schofield, who writes that the Blues were second-best around the field from the opening minute.
Sterling’s goal was the result of a significant amount of luck, whereas Forest’s equalizer was the result of Cooper’s team just wanting the ball more. But it wasn’t simply the two goals that made it clear that Chelsea was lacking in vigor.
Potter’s changes “didn’t help inject any vitality into the side” because “Forest players were coming out on top across the pitch in practically every 50/50 scrap.”
