A crushing defeat for Ange Postecoglou and his Nottingham Forest team, as Chelsea emerged victorious in a dominant display. The writing was on the wall for Postecoglou when his team crumbled under the pressure, and the Australian manager's fate was sealed shortly after the final whistle.
The absence of Evangelos Marinakis, Forest's owner, was a telling sign. He had flown in from Greece, hoping for a win and signs of progress, but left early, around the 60-minute mark, with Chelsea leading 2-0. Marinakis' early departure added to the sense of foreboding for Postecoglou.
But here's where it gets controversial... Enzo Maresca, Forest's manager, was serving a touchline ban, and he must have been delighted with the result, despite the late booking for Malo Gusto and Robert Sánchez. For Forest, the question remains: who will be in charge when Porto visits for the Europa League on Thursday?
Postecoglou, on the eve of this crucial fixture, found himself asking, "How did we get here?" His winless streak had extended to eight matches across all competitions, and the pressure was mounting. The Australian manager knew the importance of a win against Chelsea, having lost all previous encounters with them during his time at Tottenham.
And this is the part most people miss... Taiwo Awoniyi, making his first start since April and his first appearance since a serious injury, led the line for Forest. It was a bold move, and one that almost paid off. Awoniyi, involved in the buildup to a crucial moment, showed glimpses of his potential, but it wasn't enough to turn the tide.
Forest's plan to play direct balls to Awoniyi seemed to work initially, but as the game progressed, Chelsea's dominance became apparent. Postecoglou's side had their chances, with Neco Williams and Igor Jesus coming close, but it wasn't to be.
With Postecoglou under intense scrutiny, it's easy to overlook Chelsea's poor first-half performance. Maresca made some tactical changes at halftime, bringing on Moisés Caicedo, Marc Guiu, and Jamie Gittens, which seemed to spark a revival for the Blues.
Three minutes into the second half, Forest's promise faded. Pedro Neto's delightful cross found Josh Acheampong unmarked, and he headed home Chelsea's second. Neto's earlier strike from a free-kick on the edge of the D had given Chelsea the lead, and Forest's set-piece vulnerability was exposed once more when Reece James sealed the win with a corner-derived goal.
So, what now for Postecoglou and Forest? The Australian manager's future is uncertain, and the team faces a tough challenge against Porto in the Europa League. Will Postecoglou be given the chance to turn things around, or will this defeat prove to be the final straw?
What do you think? Should Postecoglou stay or go? Share your thoughts in the comments and let's discuss this intriguing situation.
