Just when Chelsea fans thought their miserable campaign could not get any worse, the Blues managed to crash through the ground and plummet to new depths with Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat to Brentford at Stamford Bridge. This marked the first time in 30 years that Chelsea have lost five games in a row in all competitions, all of which have come under club legend Frank Lampard since his return as manager on 3 April. Lampard had already achieved the unwanted record of becoming the first Chelsea manager in the club’s 118-year history to lose his first four games in charge with last week’s Champions League loss to Real Madrid. Wednesday’s loss was against a Brentford team who were in only their second-ever season in the Premier League and had not won in six games prior to the trip to Stamford Bridge.
The fans’ frustrations at an expensively assembled squad losing while barely laying a glove on their opponent was apparent as the few still in Stamford Bridge at full-time greeted the whistle with boos. Lampard acknowledged this, saying he “completely understand[s]” the Chelsea supporters making their feelings known, and that he and the players must “take it on the chin”. The Bees’ second goal came from their only shot on target, and it is now seven games played in the month of April for Chelsea with just one goal scored.
Lampard is Chelsea’s third manager this season, after Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter, and his terrible start at the Blues continues his own alarming slump as a manager. Including his time with Everton, where he was sacked on 23 January, he has now lost nine of his last 10 league games, including each of his last six. The uncertainty off the pitch cannot be helping matters on it, with former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino being strongly linked with taking over at Stamford Bridge. A finish in the top half of the table is all Chelsea really have to aim for – they are currently 11th and six points behind Fulham in 10th with six games remaining – but even that could be difficult with a trip to Arsenal up next for the Blues, who have also to face Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle. Whoever is tasked with taking Chelsea forward will oversee a huge summer for the club as they look to try and get challenging at the top end of the table once again.