Joao Pedro feels sorry for Chelsea fans after Forest defeat and eyes improvement

Joao Pedro admitted he felt sorry for Chelsea supporters after Monday’s 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest extended their desperate run.

It was a sixth Premier League defeat in a row for the Blues for the first time since 1993 and meant it was now impossible for them to finish in the top five and qualify automatically for the Champions League.

There is also the increasing likelihood that they will struggle to finish high enough to make either of the other two European competitions, after defeat to a Forest side showing eight changes saw them drop to ninth, with a visit to Anfield to play Liverpool up next.

Chelsea went a goal down to Taiwo Awoniyi after 98 seconds as they gave the ball away at a throw-in and from there their afternoon fell apart.

“From the beginning we conceded too early which made it really difficult to turn the game around,” said Pedro. “We need to find a way not to make these mistakes every game.

“This is the Premier League. If you concede very early, it’s difficult to come back. Everyone needs to look at themselves, me included, to find a way to do better. I feel sorry for the fans. We need to see where we can improve.”

Any suggestion that last weekend’s FA Cup semi-final win over Leeds had turned around Chelsea’s season was swept away at Stamford Bridge by Forest’s second string.

Manager Vitor Pereira had an eye on Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Aston Villa but the team he sent out in west London were better than their hosts in every department.

A crucial Sels stop.