Graeme
Souness thinks Chelsea need several summer signings to reinvigorate their
squad after a display "bordering on disgraceful" against Manchester City.
The Blues suffered their second 3-0 defeat of the season to City after being
outplayed in the
Saturday Night Football clash at Stamford Bridge.
Sergio Aguero scored all three goals for the visitors, with the third coming
from the penalty spot after Thibaut Courtois had been sent off for bringing
down Fernandinho.
Chelsea are set for a managerial switch at the end of the season as Italy
head coach Antonio Conte will take charge after Euro 2016, but Souness
thinks more changes are needed.
"There is a nucleus of a very good team there," he said on SNF. "But for
them to get anywhere near the big trophies like the Premier League and
Champions League, there has to be several new faces.
"It was a team with something to play for against a team going through the
motions. Some of Chelsea's play was bordering on a disgrace.
"It was a good game for City, off the back of a really good win and
qualifying for the semi-finals of the Champions League. They have their
tails up, but they met a Chelsea team with players who you would expect to
be at it - and they weren't.
"The ones that have been good in the past have to step up to the mark again.
Diego Costa went through the motions today, Eden Hazard, the Player of the
Year last year, is coming back, and I don't understand why (Nemanja) Matic
doesn't play in the more difficult games. He was missed greatly today.
"That combination of (Jon Obi) Mikel and (Cesc) Fabregas got overrun. They
didn't take part in the game and that was the biggest problem for me; that
area in front of the centre-backs was vacant all the time."
The defeat leaves Chelsea 10th in the table, 33 points worse off than they
were at this stage last season when they won the title under Jose Mourinho.
Jamie Redknapp said the Blues look a shadow of the side from last year and
agreed that Conte has work to do when he takes over.
"The demise this season has been staggering," said Redknapp. "It's difficult
to say what has happened. There are so many different factors. It's quite
worrying for Chelsea and Conte a big job on.
"Pep Guardiola must be thinking he has a real chance with that group at City
whereas Conte has a lot more to do."
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