Chelsea players need to shoulder the responsibility for their “abysmal’’ English Premier League displays in recent weeks and not under-fire manager, Antonio Conte, defender Gary Cahill said on Wednesday.
The defending champions have endured a turbulent period on the pitch, losing 4-1 at Watford on Monday, five days after a 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth.
This has increased speculation over the future of their Italian coach.
Cahill said: “The players have to take responsibility. The manager has done an absolutely unbelievable job.
“This is the worst I’ve felt for a while. Performance-wise, I didn’t recognise us or myself. It was abysmal.”
The defeat against Watford left Chelsea fourth in the table, 19 points adrift of runaway leaders Manchester City with a clash against basement side West Bromwich Albion coming up on Monday.
He said: “We just need to keep strong. I’ve been here before at this club. It’s about staying calm. It hurts a lot when you come off after a performance like that.”
Fellow defender, Cesar Azpilicueta, said Chelsea must focus on finishing in the top four and suggested they could still salvage their season by winning a Cup competition.
Chelsea faces Hull City in the fifth round of the English FA Cup and are in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.
There, they have a tough task of having Spanish side FC Barcelona to take on later this month.
Azpilcueta said: “I‘m sure this team will fight back. We have three targets to go for and we have a massive three or four months ahead of us.
“As a player, what I want is to get back on the training field as soon as possible, work hard for Monday’s game, get the three points and get some confidence back.”
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