Chelsea's Wesley Fofana appears to read note seconds before Real Madrid score

Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana appeared to read a note mere seconds before Real Madrid scored their second at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.

The Blues, who had Ben Chilwell sent off in the second half, lost the Champions League quarter-final first leg 2-0 courtesy of goals from Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio.

It was a second straight defeat for Frank Lampard, who has returned to Stamford Bridge as manager on a caretaker basis.

Although Real weren't at their best, Chelsea didn't quite have the quality to cause them any major issues.

But the manner in which they conceded the second goal has caused a huge stir amongst fans online. Real put together a short corner routine and the ball ended up with substitute Asensio, who found the bottom corner from the edge of the box after being teed up by Vinicius Jr.

It looked bad in real time but new footage appears to show £75 million defender Fofana holding a piece of paper as he defends the corner.

You would assume he was passed some form of tactical instruction as Chelsea reshuffled with ten men but he was definitely reading at the wrong time as Real had the ball in a dangerous area.

Asensio's strikes would then go through his legs and you can't help but feel his delayed response was a huge factor in the goal.

Is that defensive "expert" still at the club? state of defending at that corner, looks like Fofana is reading a note when ball comes in! pic.twitter.com/ygLvLvFKOt

— RoyalBlueChelsea⭐⭐ (@CFCROYALBLUE) April 12, 2023

Not many players came out looking good but unsurprisingly former Leicester City man Fofana was scolded for his lack of concentration.

One fan fumed: "I’ve never seen anything like it. He’s reading a note in the middle of a set piece. Real must have thought it was Christmas Day."

A second said: "Sending on a note before a set piece is defended..shocking!"

A third concurred: "The defending on the second goal from a corner v Real Madrid quite embarrassing. Fofana reading a note while corner being taken and others switched off completely."

Another commented: "Fofana reading a note LMFAO."

A final user vented: "Fofana is literally reading a note during the corner kick ffs."

Chelsea face Brighton on Saturday before hosting Real in the second leg on Tuesday as they look to overturn a two-goal deficit.