Interim boss McFarlane defends Chelsea players after Nottingham Forest defeat

[p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Blues[/a]' hopes of qualifying for the Champions League are hanging by a slender thread following the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/chelsea-4fGZN2oK/nottingham-UsushcZr/?mid=n1pZG14F"]chastening loss at Stamford Bridge[/a].[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/awoniyi-taiwo/OWFf8WFm/"]Taiwo Awoniyi[/a] marked his 100th [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nottingham/UsushcZr/"]Forest[/a] appearance with the early opener and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/igor-jesus/zPQTw5fe/"]Igor Jesus[/a]' penalty doubled their advantage soon afterwards.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/palmer-cole/h8agbDt7/"]Cole Palmer[/a] compounded Chelsea's misery when he missed a penalty late in the first half.[/p][p][b]Awoniyi struck again after the interval and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/joao-pedro/CAmJERl2/"]Joao Pedro[/a]'s eye-catching bicycle kick in the closing stages was no consolation for lacklustre Chelsea.[/b][/p][embed guid="daf2340e-478a-4da2-8780-58cafa938da1" url="https://x.com/ChelseaFC/status/2051333670435172619" social-type="twitter" /][p]Languishing in ninth place, Chelsea's wretched run has left them on the verge of failing to reach next season's Champions League.[/p][p]Chelsea, who will face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Manchester City[/a] in the FA Cup final on May 16th, have lost six consecutive league games for the first time since 1993.[/p][p][b]"A really disappointing result and performance. The first 15 minutes was not good enough. That set the tone,"[/b] McFarlane said.[/p][p][b]"It's hard to say why. I'd probably like to review the game to look at such a stark contrast to the way we defended against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/leeds/tUxUbLR2/"]Leeds[/a] last weekend.[/b][/p][p]"[a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fernandez-enzo/nZnbEVWP/"]Enzo Fernandez[/a] hits the post and Cole Palmer misses the penalty; when you have such a bad start you need those kind of moments to go in your favour and unfortunately they didn't.[/p][p][b]"It's massively disappointing. We know we are a lot better than what we showed. I don't think we ever got to our level."[/b][/p][embed guid="028c63e0-2c56-4abb-a1c4-19e26e970603" url="https://x.com/Squawka/status/2051336812388372565?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]After constant speculation that Chelsea's stars were not invested in the team during Liam Rosenior's brief reign, McFarlane claimed his side remain committed to the cause.[/p][p][b]"I wouldn't say that. I don't think we lacked effort and commitment,"[/b] he said.[/p][p][b]"We believe we will, we see the lads every day and they are doing everything they can. We need to move on quickly and it's about responding now.[/b][/p][p][b]"I've said it before, but we just need to improve on this performance and be ready for another game in five days."[/b][/p][p]Adding to Chelsea's woes, teenage winger [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/derry-jesse/4deYk3pg/"]Jesse Derry[/a] was stretchered off on his first start after suffering a head injury while winning the penalty that Palmer missed.[/p][p][b]"The update is that he is in a good condition. I need to fully speak to the medical team, but it's positive signs,"[/b] McFarlane said of Derry.[/p]