Alan Shearer launched a scathing assessment of Chelsea’s ‘pathetic’ first-half performance against Manchester City in Sunday’s FA Cup third round clash – with the pundit taking aim at their toothless attack in particular.
Kai Havertz was hooked at half-time, having given away a penalty for a needless handball and putting in a largely forgettable performance up front, with midfielder Mateo Kovacic also making way in the interval.
Graham Potter’s side are without numerous injured first-team stars, but after narrowly losing 1-0 to City on Thursday, found themselves 3-0 down by the interval, and went on to lose 4-0 at full-time after several changes in the second period.
Pundit Alan Shearer launched a scathing assessment of Chelsea’s first-half performance
Chelsea went in at the break 3-0 down before losing the match 4-0 in the FA Cup third round
After going into the break 3-0 down against a much-changed City side, Shearer revealed his disappointment in the Blues’ performance at the Etihad, claiming that a long injury list was no excuse for the dismal showing.
‘From a Chelsea point of view, that is not acceptable, that performance,’ the former Newcastle legend said. ‘I said they needed some energy, character, all of those things.
‘I don’t care how many injuries you’ve got in your team, you can still go out and put a shift in. They haven’t and it’s embarrassing from their point of view.
Kai Havertz was one of two Chelsea players to be substituted at half-time by Graham Potter
‘Going forward its been so bad. They’ve been nothing short of pathetic in forward positions. Where’s the movement? They’ve had nothing up front at all. Everything has been sideways or even backwards.
‘They’ve got to give the fans something now, show they care about this football club, because that 45 minutes was not acceptable.’
Both sides had made a number of changes – with Chelsea handing a debut to young centre-back Bashir Humphreys as one of six new faces after facing the same opposition three days previously.
The Blues have won only three of their last 10 games, and only once in the first four of 2023
But with pressure growing on Potter following a run of poor results, his side were unable to put in a strong enough performance to allow him to sit any more comfortably in the dugout.
Shearer added that injuries were no excuse for the poor performance that the Blues put in
Havertz was an almost non-existent presence in attack, as his poor season continues, with the German international managing just seven goals and an assist so far in 2022-23.
And fans were quick to back up the ex-England striker’s views, with many taking to Twitter to support his assessment of the game.
One wrote: ‘Shearer’s just nailed it – not an acceptable performance.’
Another agreed, adding: ‘Shearer spot on, yes the injuries are bad but we still have players on the pitch that should be putting in a shift and they’re simply not, no desire, no fight, lazy play.’
A third echoed Shearer’s words, writing: ‘Alan Shearer is spot on. The body language from the Chelsea players is absolutely dreadful… And whatever you think about Potter, that is something that he has influence on.’
A fourth agreed that the game had been ’embarrassing’: ‘Shearer is right – it’s embarrassing – they’ve not put in a shift.’
And a fifth suggested Chelsea were playing like they did not care about the result, claiming: ‘Shearer is right, too many in a Chelsea shirt strolling round like the game means f*** all. We all know who the main culprits are.’
At full-time, Shearer maintained that the Blues were ‘nowhere near good enough’ in the game, which ended 4-0 after a second penalty in the tie was converted by Mahrez in the second period.
‘Chelsea were nowhere near good enough,’ Shearer added post-match. ‘It’s a big week coming up. They have got Fulham and Palace in their next two league games. They have to show more than they showed today. We said it, we know they have injuries.
Pressure has been building on Graham Potter at Chelsea following a torrid run of results
‘With so many it is tough for them but that doesn’t stop the players on the pitch putting a shift in, having an attitude, showing they belong in a Chelsea shirt. So the next two games are so important for them.’
Following an especially poor performance on Thursday evening, in which he was subbed off after coming on earlier in the game, striker 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 to the side that faced City last Thursday, with City making seven