Chelsea striker Armando Broja has opened up about his internal struggles during his goal drought.
Broja, who in September returned from a serious knee injury, scored a crucial towering header during Saturday's 4-0 win against Preston in the third round of the FA Cup.
Chelsea were poor in the first half but eventually romped to victory, with Thiago Silva, Raheem Sterling and Enzo Fernandez all getting on the scoresheet in Stamford Bridge.
However, having failed to score in his previous 11 games, Broja has admitted to frustrations at his performances.
"When you go on a run where you are not scoring much, you can get a bit down," he told reporters. "It's not the greatest feeling, but getting a goal in a game like this makes up for it.
"Of course, it was a big one for myself and for the game as well. It was great work from Misha (Mykhailo Mudryk) to play to Malo (Gusto) and a great delivery from Malo. I just tried to get my head on it and it wasn't a bad header.
"It is our job - we get paid to score goals. It's what everyone sees as a striker, someone who scores goals. It is difficult because everyone expects you to score every game but there have been great players who have not done that.
"The result comes first but personally I love to score goals. I'm a striker; it's something that I love doing."
Broja will be Chelsea's main striker until February with Nicolas Jackson at the Africa Cup of Nations for the remainder of the month. The Albania international now looks ready, having needed time to build his fitness following his return in September from a 10-month injury lay-off.
However, Mauricio Pochettino says his striker must "smile more" and give off more positive body language - and Broja agrees. He added: "I've had many conversations with the manager.
"I felt I was going through quite a difficult period coming back from my injury. Being out of the team for so long and not being involved, you could say I felt down with everything that was going on."
"Once I came back, I was feeling much more like myself. I still feel like there is much more to come from me. And, as the gaffer says, I can get my body language more positive."
"I am a bit harsh on myself at times. That's because I expect a lot from myself and I know what I am capable of. The manager is just trying to take that weight off my shoulders and loosen myself up that little bit.
"I'm trying to take that advice on board because he has been helping me every day. I just need to smile more and be a bit more positive."
