Chelsea fans fume over new footage of dire defending at Real Madrid 

Chelsea fans have been left furious at new footage that shows a number of their players not aware Real Madrid had taken a corner before they scored on Wednesday night. 

In a clip that has surfaced from the game, fans have been left incredulous at seeing Reece James with his back turned to the play and Wesley Fofana appearing to be reading a note taken on by one of the substitutes. 

‘Half of them backs turned, pointing, yeah [Marc] Cucarella does at least move, Fofana (who’s legs the ball goes through) looks like he’s reading a book… little things make the difference… it ain’t over but so frustrating to concede soft goals,’ one fan wrote. 

Another added: ‘They’re [sic] aren’t even focused on defending the corner. It’s almost like everyone already gave up.’

Chelsea, who were down to 10 men after Ben Chilwell’s sending off, looked totally 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 savaged for a clip that shows them switching 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 defending as Marco Asensio scored to make it 2-0

‘This is horrendous,’ another fuming fan added.

‘Just look at the defending as a group – literally something you would expect to see from a (very young) schoolboy team, and even then you would still be livid at it.’ 

‘Is that defensive ‘expert’ still at the club? state of defending at that corner, looks like Fofana is reading a note when ball comes in!’ a fourth said. 

Fofana was savaged in L’Equipe’s ratings, receiving a 2/10 grade while Marc Cucurella was criticised by Jamie Carragher in the aftermath for his role in Chilwell’s sending off.  

‘When you play in Europe, it feels different from playing in the Premier League. At times it’s slower – it almost feels like a charity game! Look at everyone, how slow everyone is,’ Carragher said on CBS Sports. 

‘And this, for me, is European football: how Real Madrid change the pace of this game. Everyone stood still, standing in position, then Rodrygo gets his touch and before you know it ‘Boom!’ the pace in the game is quick.’

He added: ”For me, Cucurella is at fault but that [the sending off] is even more at fault. Don’t pull someone back and give a red card away. 

‘The reason you pay a goalkeeper is to do his job and to get you out of trouble defensively – that’s what he’s there for! Let him do his job!

Chelsea fans were unhappy at what was widely viewed as ‘pathetic’ levels of concentration

Interim boss Frank Lampard (left) looks to console Reece James at the end of the 2-0 defeat

In the end interim boss Frank Lampard could only hold his hands up that his players simply switched off when down to 10 men.

‘The disappointing thing is you give away a set-piece and switch off for the second goal with ten men,’ he said. ‘I don’t think with 10 men they carved us open. That was due to the spirit. 

‘And I think at that part of the game we had our chances, three pretty good chances. Joao [Felix] early, Raheem [Sterling], Mason [Mount] near the end. So there’s some good things, but the result is a reality.

‘I just said to the players, special things can happen at Stamford Bridge. They’re a good team, but we have to believe.’