‘You can’t come out of this stadium even at 4-1 down’: Rio Ferdinand hits out at Chelsea fans who left Stamford Bridge with side trailing to Ajax before superb second-half comeback
- Some Chelsea fans left their thrilling draw against Ajax with the Blues 4-1 down
- Rio Ferdinand hit out at those quick to exit Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night
- Frank Lampard’s side came from 4-1 down to get a point against the Dutch giants
Rio Ferdinand and Gary Lineker have hit out at Chelsea fans who left Stamford Bridge when their side were trailing Ajax 4-1 before their superb comeback on Tuesday night.
The Blues were three goals down to the Dutch giants before a second penalty of the match from Jorginho and goals from Cesar Azpilicueta and Reece James brought them level.
A pair of red cards for Ajax defenders Daley Blind and Joel Veltman tipped the game in Chelsea’s favour but some home fans weren’t there to see it as they exited the stadium before the comeback had started.
Rio Ferdinand hit out at Chelsea fans who left Stamford Bridge early against Ajax on Tuesday
Reece James scored a dramatic equaliser for Chelsea as they won a point at Stamford Bridge
BT Sport host Lineker and pundit Ferdinand took aim at those heading for the exits early, saying they must have regretted their decision.
Ferdinand said: ‘You can’t walk out. The spirit within this stadium and this club the way they have responded to Frank then you can’t come out of this stadium even at 4-1 down.’
Lineker added: ‘We saw fans walking out at 4-1 and they must have said ‘what did I do? Why did I leave?’ when they got home.
‘It just shows you with football you never know. You never give up.’
Those quick to leave the stadium were also singled out on social media.
One fan wrote: ‘Hope every single one of those Chelsea fans who left are devastated right now. Never ever leave early.’
A pair of red cards for Ajax’s Daley Blind and Joel Veltman tipped the game in Chelsea’s favour
Another tweeted: ‘A bunch of Chelsea fans left the stadium when they were 4-1 down and they’ve now just come back into the stadium.
‘Complete joke, shouldn’t let the clowns back in. Pathetic fans.’
Chelsea manager Lampard was at a loss to describe the roller-coaster of a match.
He told BT Sport: ‘I need to compose myself. I’ve just watched back the first-half goals so I could give you some form of explanation, but I can’t explain the game.
‘For all the things that we might analyse, the goals we conceded, the madness of the game, we are here for entertainment I suppose.
‘Even though there were some nervy moments, some crazy moments. Anyone who was watching that, anywhere, has to say it was an incredible game of football.’