Chelsea were truly humbled in their second match against Manchester City in the space of four days. If there was positivity beneath the 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge in midweek there was little but general anger, resentment and shades of toxicity at the Etihad Stadium from the Blues' faithful.
A Riyad Mahrez freekick, Julian Alvarez penalty and well worked Phil Foden goal put the hosts 3-0 at half-time and was met with a scathing assessment by Alan Shearer, who labelled Graham Potter's side 'embaressing' and 'unacceptable.' Two teenagers came on in the second half but the game was gone by then.
The result leaves Chelsea 10th in the league and out of both cup competitions in January. Alongside chants for Roman Abramovich and Thomas Tuchel it was a dark day for Potter as things look set get worse before they get better.
READ MORE: Pep Guardiola stunned by Chelsea star as Todd Boehly handed new £26.5m transfer conundrum
Here, football.london has rounded up the wider national media reaction to the game.
Andy Hunter writes: “Vinci Per Luca” read a banner draped over the Chelsea end. Win for Luca was the request but Graham Potter’s outclassed team were unable to deliver as Manchester City cruised into round four. The teams have met three times in three different competitions this season, City victorious and shutting out Chelsea every time.
"To compound the misery for Potter and the Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly, the names of the former manager Thomas Tuchel and former owner Roman Abramovich echoed from the away section as their expensive, ineffective side slipped to another defeat.
"Chelsea’s first third-round exit for 25 years – when the late Gianluca Vialli scored twice in a 5-3 defeat against Manchester United – continued their miserable run of form and results under Potter. It is now five defeats in seven games for the former Brighton manager and five games without a goal in that sequence. They never troubled City’s stand-in goalkeeper Stefan Ortega throughout a chastening cup tie. City operated on a different level, scoring three in the first half through Riyad Mahrez, Julian Álvarez and Phil Foden."
Charlie Parker-Turner writes: "Chelsea manager Graham Potter has been warned by Neil Warnock that he will be ‘thrown under the bus’ by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang if he becomes unhappy at Stamford Bridge. The statement comes after the striker was not named in the Blues’ squad for their FA Cup clash against Manchester City on Sunday.
"Potter revealed that the Gabon international sustained a back injury earlier this week that has ruled him out, though there are suggestions already that the former Barcelona star is growing restless at the club.
"The 33-year-old has scored just once in nine league appearances for the Blues so far this season, cutting a frustrated figure after he was substituted off in the 66th minute against City on Thursday night – despite entering the fray in the 5th minute."
"Warnock explained: “You get players like that and you are better off without them. Chelsea are short of strikers but people like Aubameyang are after themselves really, they look after themselves as players and they’ll throw the manager under the bus rather than take any blame. So I think Graham Potter has to deal with it."
Jonathan Gorrie writes: "Chelsea crashed out of the FA Cup at the third-round stage for the first time since 1998 as pressure grows on Graham Potter following a meek display at Manchester City.
"Missing both his first-choice full-backs, Potter turned to Lewis Hall and Trevoh Chalobah to match City’s wingers with young Bashir Humphreys in the middle alongside Kalidou Koulibaly. A commendable, albeit somewhat forced given the injury crisis, and decision of course but Pep Guardiola’s ruthless attackers were able to toy with them at ease.
"While it matters little now, the visitors actually looked comfortable in the opening stages. Brave enough to build from the back despite City’s machine-like press, both Kai Havertz and Mason Mount had caught the home side out on the break but were unable to bring through balls under control."
READ NEXT:
Why Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed Man City vs Chelsea amid Sterling and Pulisic injury blows
Every word Graham Potter said on Tuchel chants, Chelsea form, Pulisic, Sterling, Aubameyang
Manchester City vs Chelsea highlights: Mahrez, Foden and Alvarez put Blues to sword
Pep Guardiola tells Todd Boehly what Chelsea must do with Graham Potter after heavy defeat
Chelsea fans make feelings clear vs Man City with Thomas Tuchel and Roman Abramovich chants
