Chelsea defender Axel Disasi has called on his team-mates to be “killers” in front of goal after the struggling Blues misfired again against Bournemouth.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side were booed off by the away end following a disappointing 0-0 draw at the Vitality Stadium yesterday.
Nicolas Jackson, Conor Gallagher and Levi Colwill all missed big chances and the result leaves Chelsea languishing in 14th place, already eight points outside the top four.
Disasi admits Chelsea, who also failed to score in their 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest before the international break, lack killer instinct but he believes they have been unlucky not to register more points so far.
“We have to keep going in this way but be more killers in the opponents’ box,” said Disasi. “We created many chances so we have to keep doing this but we have to kill the opponent.
“When we see the game [again], I think we [will realise we] deserved to win. We didn’t score so the feeling is a little bit sad. That’s football. We have to keep going because I think we are performing on the pitch but just have to kill the opportunities when we have them.”
Disasi joined Chelsea from Monaco for £38.5million in the summer and was one of their more experienced signings.
The France international, who has been ever-present in central defence alongside Thiago Silva, is convinced Chelsea will come good as their young squad gains more experience and plays together more.
“It is my first year here and I feel better and know my teammates more game-by-game,” he said.
“The team is very young but we have a lot of quality. In the future, it will be good and I will be more comfortable on the pitch with my team-mates. I am doing my best to help the team. I think the future will be good.”
Chelsea now face a difficult run in which they face 10 teams who finished in the top half last season in their next 11 matches.
Pochettino is also sweating on the fitness of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.
Chelsea’s injury list has grown to 12 players after Caicedo, Noni Madueke and Marc Cucurella pulled out of the Bournemouth match, joining Reece James, Christopher Nkunku and Wesley Fofana on the treatment table.