After falling to three consecutive defeats in their final games ahead of the World Cup, it's clear that Chelsea will hope to quickly rebound when they return to action after Christmas. It's the first time the Blues have fallen to three Premier League defeats in a row since 2015 and three straight in all competitions since 2002.
The club's recent form has certainly brought the initial momentum that Graham Potter generated after taking over the club to a grinding halt. Two wins over AC Milan in the Champions League have been quickly forgotten as injuries have piled up, the squad has become more stretched, and the Blues' ability to challenge the opposition goal has almost disappeared.
Potter is hoping to use the period as a reset, and despite having a lengthy period without the bulk of his players at Cobham, is choosing to take the positives.
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He said following defeat to Newcastle: "We will have a lot of players away so we have not got too many to work with but at the same time, we all need a change in environment and that will be helpful. We have to use it as that. We have to think about it as a positive in that regard. There are a lot of games to go, there is a lot of football to be played, we need to reset, regroup, re-energise and start again."
In his press conference, the Blues boss reinforced that point but also hinted at the hope of having players return from injury in time to face Bournemouth on November 27.
He said: "A lot of players go away so we only have four or five with us. Obviously, we have to hope that the guys that go away come back in a good place, healthy. We hope we can get the other guys back as well. Then, yeah, work, re-energise, refocus and go again for the second half of the season."
It's perhaps unsurprising that the feeling is mirrored within his squad. Kalidou Koulibaly heads to the World Cup with Senegal having lifted the Africa Cup of Nations earlier in 2022 and will undoubtedly be focused on success again. However, the defender also intends to use the time to think about Chelsea and how the team can improve.
"We have to be sad after losing in Newcastle," said Koulibaly. "We wanted to get the three points but it was a tough game. Newcastle played well, they made a lot of intensity and it was difficult for us with all the injuries we have and all the pressure they put on us.
"It was a bit tough and we are sad that we lost this game because we wanted more and we didn’t get it. We have to work hard because we are far from first place in the Premier League.
"We have a lot of very important players who are injured and the players who played are not in a good mood. We have to keep on working, keep on believing because we can reach our objective. We have a break, and we can think about our team, think about Chelsea the club, because there is a lot to do to come back in a good shape."
Not only is Koulibaly hoping for the return of some key players, but he is also hoping for a reset, as Potter has suggested. The summer signing wants to see a new mentality from the Blues upon their return.
"We need to know that we are not in a good place," he added. "We need to keep on working, keep on believing. For the supporters it is hard to lose again because it is three games in a row that we lose and it is difficult for us and it is difficult for them. So we have to get back after the World Cup with another mentality, and a mentality to win the games and to get points."
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