Kepa Arrizabalaga admits Chelsea are beginning to look over their shoulder within the battle for Champions League qualification after their stoop continued with a 1-1 draw at Brighton.
The third-placed Blues topped the Premier League desk early final month however a dismal run of simply two wins from 9 top-flight outings since has left their title problem in tatters.
Strain is rising on supervisor Thomas Tuchel together with his aspect now 12 factors adrift of leaders Manchester Metropolis, having additionally performed a recreation extra.
As well as, London rivals Tottenham and Arsenal might quickly begin to threaten Chelsea’s place within the high 4 as they every have a variety of video games in hand following the raft of latest postponements.
Goalkeeper Kepa is conscious of that risk and focusing on a swift upturn in outcomes, starting with Sunday’s Stamford Bridge conflict with Spurs.
“We’re trustworthy. We’re in good positions in all of the competitions – we’re within the Champions League, we’ve got the League Cup remaining and the World Membership Cup – however within the Premier League we’ve got dropped factors within the final month,” the Spaniard informed the membership web site.
“We now have to get again to profitable methods as a result of everyone is coming (up behind us). We want factors as a result of we wish to be on high of the league, however we’ve got to take a look at ourselves, enhance and step up. We now have one other massive recreation on Sunday, a London derby, and from there we go.”
Tuchel blamed a lacklustre show on the Amex Stadium on psychological and bodily tiredness throughout a tetchy post-match press convention.
The German has subsequently given his gamers two days off earlier than preparations for the Tottenham recreation start on Friday.
Spurs sit 11 factors behind Chelsea however have performed 5 fixtures fewer forward of travelling to Leicester on Wednesday, whereas Arsenal are 9 factors beneath the Blues with three video games in hand.
Hakim Ziyech’s first-half objective in opposition to the run of play gave the European champions one thing to construct on throughout Tuesday night’s journey to Sussex however spectacular Brighton roared again to assert a deserved level courtesy of Adam Webster’s bullet header from a nook.
We now have to get again to profitable methods as a result of everyone is coming (up behind us).
Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga
Kepa, who has been in first-team motion attributable to Edouard Mendy’s participation within the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, says the crew should work laborious to resolve ongoing points.
“We aren’t completely happy in fact, we dropped two factors and we didn’t play properly,” mentioned the 27-year-old. “In fact there’s disappointment and frustration. We solely obtained some extent as a result of they scored from a set-piece. We labored loads, we ran loads, however in small particulars we misplaced two factors.
“Set-pieces are about focus, about focus and taking your man. We now have to take a look at ourselves, not exterior, and enhance. There’s not one answer. We’re engaged on it, looking for options.”
Brighton stay ninth following an eleventh draw of a optimistic marketing campaign wherein they’ve misplaced simply 4 occasions.
Pundit Jamie Carragher praised the efficiency of Albion goalscorer Webster, tweeting his “passing out from the again, with each ft, is best than another English central defender”.
Seagulls head coach Potter was equally impressed together with his stand-in captain.
“I don’t research the opposite defenders as properly however Adam has that high quality and that’s what he brings for us,” mentioned Potter.
“His efficiency was improbable, he actually helped construct our recreation. He is a crucial signing and participant for us and I’m delighted together with his efficiency.”
Webster added: “We’ve gone behind fairly just a few occasions this season and we’ve all the time proven plenty of character to come back again and get one thing from the sport.”
Kaynak: briturkish.com
