DREAM TEAM managers can probably disregard Chelsea for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.
After a 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest, the Blues are now rock bottom of the Premier League form table having lost six league games in a row.
Forest’s second XI produced an impressive performance at Stamford Bridge Credit: Reuters
More than anything, it was the nature of Monday’s defeat that will have annoyed the Stamford Bridge faithful.
With one eye on the Europa League semi-finals, Vitor Pereira named a second-string XI in West London with key men Morgan Gibbs-White (£4.7m), Elliot Anderson (£4.1m), Neco Williams (£4.6m) and Chris Wood (£2.9m) named on the bench.
Against expectations, this much-changed Forest team raced to a 2-0 lead in the 15th minute through Taiwo Awoniyi (£2.3m) and Igor Jesus (£3.6m).
Cole Palmer (£5m) had the chance to pull one back from the penalty spot but his low effort was well saved by Matz Sels (£3.8m).
This moment underlined the England international’s declining form ahead of this summer’s World Cup, a real headache for Thomas Tuchel.
Palmer has looked less and less effective in recent weeks Credit: Getty
The 23-year-old still appears in 11.6% of teams, making him the tenth-most popular midfielder in Dream Team, but there’s a good chance many of his owners have given up on this season.
Palmer has mustered just 22 points from his last seven outings and that includes an eight-point haul against Port Vale, who since have been relegated to League Two.
Chelsea’s misery was compounded when Awoniyi bagged another goal not long after the restart to make it 3-0 and Joao Pedro’s (£4.6m) stoppage-time consolation provided little relief to the fans left in the stadium.
Although the Brazilian striker’s impressive overhead kick did get some Dream Team bosses out of jail.
A nine-point return would have been very welcome at the final whistle as he was a few seconds away from a measly two-pointer.
Pedro’s overhead kick was barely even a consolation goal Credit: Getty
Pedro can hold his head high having amassed 292 points via 20 goals and ten assists this season — only Erling Haaland (£6.2m) has notched more points among forwards.
But the 21.5% of gaffers who own him should be concerned about his viability for the remaining fixtures.
Managerless Chelsea are due to face Liverpool at Anfield in Gameweek 35 and while Gameweek 36 brings a potentially appealing double header of Manchester City (FA Cup final) and Spurs (h), the club’s dire form is impossible to ignore.
Pedro is a viable selection but many of the most engaged Dream Team bosses will pivot to a City-heavy approach for the next two Gameweeks — Pep Guardiola’s side will start as favourites at Wembley.
Marc Cucurella (£2.6m), Enzo Fernandez (£4.7m), Pedro Neto (£3.8m) and Robert Sanchez (£3.5m) are all relatively popular in Dream Team but it is hard to justify their inclusion in a competitive XI after six consecutive league defeats.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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