Wesley Fofana gets caught READING, Reece James is off the game to release Vinicius and Kepa admits on his first post: Chelsea fans outrage over new footage of their abysmal defense at Real Madrid
Chelsea fans are furious at new footage showing some of their players unaware that Real Madrid had taken a corner before scoring on Wednesday night.
In a clip that has surfaced from the game, fans are in disbelief when they saw Reece James with his back turned to the game and Wesley Fofana appearing to be reading a note made by one of the substitutes.
“Half of them turned, pointing, yes [Marc] At least Cucarella is moving, Fofana (whose legs go the ball) looks like he is reading a book…little things make all the difference…it’s not over yet but so frustrating to conced soft goals’, wrote a fan.
Another added: “They are [sic] are not even focused on defending the corner kick. It’s almost like everyone has already given up.’
Chelsea, down to 10 men after sending off Ben Chilwell, looked utterly lost at the set-piece before Marco Asensio made it 2-0 to leave the Premier League side with a mountain to climb in the second leg.
Chelsea’s players have been tortured for a clip showing them going off (left) before Real Madrid scored their second goal, with Wesley Fofana (right) appearing to be reading a note
Real Madrid punished Chelsea’s lax defense as Marco Asensio scored to make it 2-0
“This is horrible,” another smoking fan added.
“Just look at defending as a group – literally something you’d expect from a (very young) high school team, and even then you’d still be furious about it.”
“Is that defensive ‘expert’ still with the club? state of defense at that corner, looks like Fofana is reading a note when the ball comes in!’ said a fourth.
Fofana was furious in L’Equipe’s ratings, receiving a 2/10, while Marc Cucurella was criticized in the aftermath by Jamie Carragher for his role in Chilwell’s broadcast.
“When you play in Europe, it feels different to playing in the Premier League. Sometimes it’s slower – it almost feels like a charity game! Look at everyone, how slow everyone is,” Carragher said on CBS Sports.
And this to me is European football: how Real Madrid is changing the pace of this game. Everyone stood still, got into position, then Rodrygo gets his touch and before you know it Boom! the pace in the game is high.’
He added: ”For me, Cucurella has failed, but that [the sending off] has even more debt. Don’t pull someone back and give away a red card.
‘The reason you pay a goalkeeper is to do his job and get you out of trouble defensively, that’s what he’s there for! Let him do his job!
Chelsea fans were dissatisfied with what was widely regarded as a ‘pathetic’ level of concentration
Interim boss Frank Lampard (left) appears to comfort Reece James at the end of the 2-0 defeat
In the end, interim boss Frank Lampard could only hold up his hands that his players simply took out when there were only 10 men left.
“The disappointing thing is that you give away a set piece and switch off with ten men for the second goal,” he said. “I don’t think they cut us open with 10 men. That came from the mind.
“And I think we had our chances in that part of the game, three pretty good chances. Joao [Felix] asked Raheem [Sterling]Mason [Mount] almost at the end. So there are some good things, but the result is a reality.
“I was just saying to the players: extraordinary things can happen at Stamford Bridge. It’s a good team, but we have to believe in it.’