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Cape Town - Graeme Souness has slammed Chelsea after another tepid display saw the defending Premier League champions hammered 3-0 by Manchester City.
A Sergio Aguero hat-trick handed City the three points at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, a result which leaves Chelsea in tenth position in the league standings, some 28 points behind leaders Leicester City.
It's been a season to forget for the Blues, and Liverpool legend Souness pulled no punches in his assessment of Guus Hiddink's side.
"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," Souness told Sky Sports.
"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 (John 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."
Hiddink stepped in to fill the void left when Jose Mourinho was sacked in December, and Italy head coach Antonio Conte will take over the reins ahead of the 2016/17 season.
However, Souness believes that Chelsea need more than just a change of manager if they're to challenge for silverware next season.
"There is a nucleus of a very good team there. But for them to get anywhere near the big trophies like the Premier League and Champions League, there has to be several new faces," he asserted.
