JOE COLE has claimed that Chelsea’s stars do not want to play at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues were beaten at home yet again by Brentford for the third season in a row.
This means that Chelsea have only managed to win just once in their last 13 home games.
The appalling record has seen the side struggle to bounce back from last season as the club currently sits 11th in the Premier League table.
Since March, Chelsea have only beaten newly promoted Luton Town at Stamford Bridge.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino had appeared to be turning things around after going four games unbeaten before the defeat to the Bees.
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And former star Joe Cole has suggested that the players are looking scared when playing at Stamford Bridge.
He told TNT Sports: “You can sense it when they come to the stadium and the fans are apprehensive – they don’t know what they’re going to get.
“I saw a lot of good signs in the last four games but today, the doubts crept into the players’ minds.
“The players are apprehensive and then the football becomes like you’re playing in mud when you get that doubt and concern. It’s very difficult to get out of that.
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“They’re in it now and they’ve got to find a way.
“It’s real tough to play football in these conditions but you’ve got to stick together as a group and find a way out of this.
“You have to give Brentford a lot of credit. The back five and midfield in front of them were outstanding defensively.
“From Chelsea’s perspective, it’s a real tough pill to swallow.”
The Blues lost 2-0 to their London rivals as Ethan Pinnock and Bryan Mbeumo scored.
Bees ace Neal Maupay was booked before he even came on for disrupting Cole Palmer as he lined up a free-kick.
At one point, Pochettino could be heard arguing with a Blues supporter for jeering Nicolas Jackson.
Chelsea will have the chance to bounce back from the latest setback when they take on Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
