Cesar Azpilicueta laid bare the extent of Chelsea’s problems after they were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
The Blues are eighth in the Premier League, seven points off the top four after a lacklustre performance at the City Ground. Graham Potter’s side have won just once in their last seven league matches and are in danger of being cut adrift in the race for Champions League qualification.
They took the lead through Raheem Sterling, who smashed home after Christian Pulisic’s cross was deflected onto the crossbar by Willy Boly. But Forest roared back into the game and, after Brennan Johnson had two chances saved and Morgan Gibbs-White struck the crossbar, Serge Aurier equalised from a corner.
Chelsea failed to have a single shot on target in the second half and Forest appeared the more likely winner. Club captain Azpilicueta did not try to sugarcoat things in his post-match interview.
“We’re disappointed, of course. That was not the way we wanted to start the new year and we’re disappointed to lose two points,” he told Sky Sports. “Every point matters and, of course, today we lost two points, that is clear. Since the beginning of the season, we’ve lost too many points and now we are really far from where we want to be.
“Every game that you don’t win is another chance missed, but this is the reality and when you see the table, this is where we are. We need to have a very good second half of the season if we want to achieve a Champions League spot next season.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Can Chelsea still finish in the top four this season? Comment below.
“We have to stick together, we know that. This is not the most pleasant time, but in these difficult moments, we need everybody to stick together.
“We need to work hard to improve, to be humble, to analyse ourselves and see how we can be better. We have a massive game against Manchester City at the Bridge, and we need to start winning points.”
Chelsea face City in the Premier League on Thursday, before playing Pep Guardiola’s side again three days later in the third round of the FA Cup. Potter desperately needs to find some form, with the 2-0 victory over Bournemouth last Tuesday the only league win since October.
The Blues were poor at both ends of the pitch against Forest, with Kalidou Koulibaly run ragged by Taiwo Awoniyi and striker Kai Havertz failing to impose himself on the game. Sterling’s goal came via a stroke of fortune and they did not threaten Dean Henderson’s goal much thereafter.
Potter brought on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Hazim Ziyech and Conor Gallagher in the second half, but to no avail. Ziyech did create a chance for Aubameyang with a nicely-weighted back-post cross, but the former Arsenal captain could not get his header on target.
