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Alan Shearer has released a scathing assessment of Chelsea’s first-half performance against Manchester City in Sunday’s FA Cup third round clash, taking particular aim at their toothless attack.
Kai Havertz hooked at half time, after taking a penalty for an unnecessary handball and putting in a largely forgettable performance up front, with midfielder Mateo Kovacic also breaking through at interval.
Graham Potter’s side do not have many first-team stars, but after losing narrowly 1-0 to City on Thursday, they found themselves 3-0 down at the interval, after goals from Riyad Mahrez, Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden.
Alan Shearer delivered a scathing assessment of Chelsea’s first-half performance
Chelsea went 3-0 down at half-time after goals from Riyah Mahrez, Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden
After going 3-0 down at half-time against a much-changed City side, Shearer revealed his disappointment at the Blues’ performance at the Etihad, saying a long injury list was no excuse for the dismal performance.
“From Chelsea’s point of view, that performance is not acceptable,” said the former Newcastle legend. ‘I said they needed some energy, character, all those things.
‘I don’t care how many injuries you have on your team, you can still go out there and make a change. They haven’t and it’s embarrassing from his point of view.
Kai Havertz was one of two Chelsea players to be substituted at half time for Graham Potter.
‘In the future it has been so bad. They have been nothing short of pathetic in forward positions. Where is the movement? They haven’t had anything upfront at all. Everything has been sideways or even the other way around.
“They have to give the fans something now, show that they care about this football club, because those 45 minutes were not acceptable.”
Both sides had made a number of changes: Chelsea debuted young centre-back Bashir Humphreys as one of six new faces after facing the same opposition three days earlier.
The Blues have won just three of their last 10 games, and just one in the first four of 2023.
But with the pressure mounting on Potter following a run of poor results, his team were unable to put in a strong enough performance to allow him to sit more comfortably on the bench.
Shearer added that injuries were no excuse for the Blues’ poor performance.
Havertz has had an almost non-existent presence in attack as his poor season continues with the Germany international managing just seven goals and one assist so far in 2022-23.
And fans were quick to endorse the views of the former England striker, with many taking to Twitter to back up their assessment of the game.
One wrote: “Shearer just nailed it, not a passable performance.”
Another agreed, adding: “Shearer spot on, yes the injuries are serious but we still have players on the field who should be changing and they just aren’t, no desire, no fight, lazy game.”
A third echoed Shearer’s words, writing: ‘Alan Shearer is spot on. The body language of Chelsea players is absolutely appalling…
‘And whatever you think about Potter, that’s something he has an influence on.’
A fourth agreed that the game had been “embarrassing”: “Shearer is right, it’s embarrassing, they haven’t taken a turn.”
The pressure has been mounting on Graham Potter at Chelsea following a torrid run of results.
And a fifth suggested Chelsea were playing like they didn’t care about the result, stating: “Shearer’s right, too many in a Chelsea shirt walking around like the game meant shit.” We all know who the main culprits are.
After a particularly poor performance on Thursday night, in which he was substituted having come on early in the match, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was left out of the squad entirely.
The Blues have won just three of their last ten games, winning just once in the new year after four games so far.
They are currently without numerous first-team players due to injuries, including Reece James (knee), N’Golo Kante (hamstring), Edouard Mendy (shoulder), Wesley Fofana (knee), Ben Chilwell (hamstring ), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (calf), Raheem Sterling (hamstring), Christian Pulisic (knee) and Armando Broja (cruciate ligament).
Chelsea made six changes from the squad that faced City last Thursday, with City making seven