Chelsea stalwart Cesar Azpilicueta has given his team-mates a huge wake-up call after warning their top-four bid is fading fast.
Graham Potter's side languish seven points off fourth after being held 1-1 at lowly Nottingham Forest. The Blues took the lead through Raheem Sterling at the City Ground but had to settle for a point.
It means Chelsea have won just once in seven Premier League games and club captain Azpilicueta is not happy. The 33-year-old assessed: “Since the beginning of the season, we have lost too many points and now we are really far from where we want to be.
“When you see the table, that’s where we are and we need to have a very good second half of the season if we want to achieve Champions League qualification for next season. This is the reality that we face and we have to stick together.
‘We know that it’s not the most pleasant time, but in these difficult moments we need everybody to stick together, to work hard to improve. To be humble, to see ourselves, to analyse ourselves and where we can do better.”
Chelsea’s draw at Forest left boss Potter frustrated as their struggles away from home returned. The side’s shortcomings are clear, with every club in the top half of the Premier League having scored more goals than the Blues.
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It doesn’t get any easier for Chelsea, either, with champions Manchester City the next visitors to Stamford Bridge on Thursday night.
The Spanish defender added: “We have a massive game against Manchester City at the Bridge but we need to start winning points. Every point matters and, of course, at Forest we lost two points. That is not the way we wanted to start the new year. Every game we don’t win is a chance that we miss, but this is the reality.”
Azpilicueta was speaking after his 495th game for Chelsea , surpassing Petr Cech’s record as their highest overseas appearance maker.
