“This team has got no ba*ls”

Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol lambasted Chelsea players for their lack of character and fight following their 3-1 Premier League home defeat to Nottingham Forest on Monday (May 4).

Despite dominating possession (67%), the Blues conceded thrice – with Taiwo Awoniyi scoring either side of the break – as they succumbed to their sixth straight league defeat, a first since November 1993.

Joao Pedro’s overhead effort in stoppage time meant that the managerless Premier League side avoided losing six games in a row without scoring for the first time in their history. Nevertheless, it marked the second time – first since 1978 – that the Blues lost four back-to-back home games as they slumped to ninth in the standings.

On ESPN Podcasts, Nicol minced no words about the Blues’ abject form following their latest capitulation at Stamford Bridge:

“The problem right now is not this team lacking direction or the lack of a real leader on and off the field. This team has got no guts, no ba**s, cajones, what do you want to call that – the lack of that?

“They’re trying to play football, not saying they’re not trying. They’re trying to pass the ball, but where’s the extra dynamism, that extra energy and desire? You watch Nottingham Forest, they defend strong and box with pace. Whenever they’re doing something, they’re absolutely bang-on, every single piece of them is doing that.”

“This Chelsea side is just trying to play football without any real emotion,” he concluded.

With their latest defeat, the ninth-placed Blues are out of the top-five race for UEFA Champions League football next season.

What’s next for Chelsea?

Things hardly get any easy for Chelsea following their Premier League home defeat to Nottingham Forest on Monday, as they next travel to deposed holders Liverpool on Saturday (May 9) in the league.

Another defeat would equal the club’s worst-ever losing run of seven straight defeats, not endured since December 1952 in the erstwhile First Division. However, it might not be all doom and gloom for the Blues, as they have a chance of ending a dismal campaign with silverware.

That opportunity will come on May 16 when they take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final at the Wembley, with the Blues qualifying for next season’s UEFA Europa League if they win that game.