Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca admits his side are in a difficult position but is confident his team can get out of the crisis.
The Blues suffered a 3-1 defeat against Manchester City on Saturday evening, which saw the London club drop to sixth place.
It was their fifth defeat of the season, the same as Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Brighton.
Noni Madueke gave the visitors an early lead after an error from Abdukodir Khusanov, but the hosts struggled with goals from Josko Gvardiol, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden.
Maresca reflected on the game and admitted he was frustrated by missed opportunities.
He said: “The game started very well for us. We scored the first goal and we could have scored the second goal two or three times. The game would have changed completely. We missed it.
“The team was there, but in the last few minutes we conceded 1-1. The second goal changed the game. Robert is the first (to admit) that he knows he has to do better. Working hard every day (is the way to improve). We try to talk to everyone.
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“We are making progress. We are better than we were a month or two ago. These moments will make us better.
“We scored the first goal and could have scored the second, and then the game is always open against this team and these players. “We conceded a goal at the end of the first half and it was probably 50 in the second half /50.
“When you concede a goal at the end of the first half and the best way is to avoid it. The game would probably be different for me if we scored the second goal.
“We have to get better, but also play the way we play: we scored the first goal and we could have scored the second.” If we had managed to score, the game could have been completely different for us .”
Maresca added that he knows City have quality players who can punish any opponent in the world.
And he defends goalkeeper Robert Sanchez again after he was caught in no man’s land for City’s second goal.
“You have players who can change the game at any time.
“In my opinion we are better than we were a month or two ago.
“Robert (Sanchez) is the first to notice the mistake. I think the second goal changed the mood.
“We are in a moment – game by game it is an opportunity for us to learn something.”
