Chelsea posted a horrendous stat in a lucky first-half escape against a struggling Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday afternoon. Premier League action resumed this weekend following the international break, and the Blues travelled to Forest for the opening fixture of matchday eight. It should have been smooth sailing for Enzo Maresca's troops against the Tricky Trees, given their recent form, but the visitors were taken by surprise with the intent and purpose of their hosts in the first period.
A bright start from Forest catch Chelsea off-guard
Ange Postecoglou's men got out of the blocks like a side possessed. They looked smooth in transition, attacked with purpose, and the sack calls from the Forest faithful were kept in the drawer. Elliot Anderson was calling the shots in midfield, and the hosts had 66.4% possession for the final 15 minutes in the first half. However, all that amounted to nothing as both teams went into the dressing room with the scoreline unchanged. However, Chelsea were certainly caught off guard as they kept chasing shadows for the entire first 45 minutes. In fact, according to , Chelsea had more errors (3) leading to shots in their box than any other Premier League match played this season. They were evidently missing their Ecuadorian talisman, Moises Caicedo, in midfield as Forest had little trouble finding spaces at the back. It was the first time that Caicedo has started on the bench since Christmas Eve 2023, a game against Wolves, which ended a stretch of 65 consecutive starts.
AdvertisementGOALChelsea come storming back
However, all that first-half fury ended with a whimper and a half-empty stadium. Maresca made three substitutions before the second half kicked off, and Chelsea were a different side. Marc Guiu, Caicedo and Jamie Gittens were introduced as Romeo Lavia, Andrey Santos, and Alejandro Garnacho made way. Within three minutes of restart, Chelsea drew first blood through promising young defender Josh Acheampong. Pedro Neto soon doubled the lead as he fired in a free-kick through the wall and Matz Sels was caught flat-footed. After the two goals went in, Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis, believed that he had seen enough as he left is seat at the City Ground and did not come back until the final whistle. Chelsea skipper Reece James heaped more misery on the hosts by scoring a third in the 84th minute. Sack chants echoed around the stadium as furious fans flocked towards the exit. Forest had four points from their first three Premier League games under Nuno Espirito Santo, and the Australian manager has been able to add just one more after overseeing five.
Defiant Postecoglou wanted more time
Postecoglou put on a defiant face in his pre-match press conference. He oozed confidence and defended his tactical acumen with gusto.
"I guess from my perspective I just don't fit, not here, just in general. If you look at things through the prism that I am a failed manager who is lucky to get this job, I know you're smirking at me, but that's what's been said, then of course these first five weeks looks like this guy is under pressure. But there is an alternative story," he said.
"I came to the Premier League two years ago and I took over at Tottenham, I was told by the chairman [Daniel Levy] that this club has to win a trophy. He said we've tried to bring winners in: Jose [Mourinho], Antonio Conte, and it hasn't worked. We need something different. I was slightly offended by that because I see myself as winner. I took over Spurs who finished eighth. Massive club, but no European football, and one that can't go two years without European football. We finished fifth in my first year and every time Harry Kane scores a goal [for Bayern after leaving Spurs] I go, 'I wish he stayed just one more year'. It would have been handy to have him after finishing fifth.
"But somehow that [first] year has disappeared from the record books. It was even used as a reason for me losing my job because even Tottenham decided to exclude the first 10 games. Yet the first 10 games here [at Forest] are important apparently.
"We win a trophy. We shed the tag of being 'Spursy'. [We get] Champions League football, which brings some rewards and the opportunity to bring greater players. But all I have heard since I finished at Tottenham is that we finished 17th last year. So if you look at it through the prism of finishing 17th, then I am a failed manager who is lucky to get another opportunity.
"So yes we finished 17th. But if people think that's a reflection of me and my coaching then again, I think they are looking at it through the prism of I just don't fit. So we get to the current space [at Forest] where there is a different story to tell, that maybe I am not a failed manager who was lucky to get this job and instead maybe I am a manager who, if you give him time, the story always ends the same. At all my previous clubs, [it ends] with me and a trophy."
Getty Images SportEnd of the road for Postecoglou
Postecoglou was greeted with deafening boos from the crowd at the final whistle. However, the manager still went up to the remaining handful of supporters and applauded them for staying there until the end of the horror show. The signs were ominous for the manager after 39 days, eight games, and zero wins and Marinakis leaving his seat with more than 20 minutes to play. And it was no surprise that Postecoglou was sacked minutes after full-time, with a new manager to take charge of Forest against Bournemouth on October 26.