Interim boss Calum McFarlane has denied accusations that Chelsea‘s players have ‘downed tools’ this season.
Thousands of angry fans left Stamford Bridge early on Monday as the Blues slipped to a sixth straight Premier League defeat against Nottingham Forest.
That desperate run, their worst since 1993, means Chelsea cannot finish in the top five and qualify automatically for the Champions League.
Performances may suggest otherwise, but ahead of Saturday’s trip to Liverpool, McFarlane insisted his squad have not thrown in the towel.
Chelsea Injuries vs. Liverpool: Latest Team News
Player Injury / Reason Status
Pedro Neto Knock UNLIKELY
Alejandro Garnacho Knock UNLIKELY
Robert Sanchez Head OUT
Jesse Derry Head OUT
Estevao Thigh OUT
Jamie Gittens Thigh OUT
Mykhailo Mudryk Suspended OUT
“No, I wouldn’t agree with that,” he said at his pre-match press conference.
“The performances haven’t been good enough, we’re in a really bad run at the moment.
“But I do see these boys every day, every training session, every meeting, in the gym, they are in a good place to go and attack games.
“We just haven’t been able to translate that on the game on Monday, so hopefully we can improve that on Saturday.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, October 20, 2024: Chelsea's goalkeeper Robert Sánchez during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
McFarlane will be without goalkeeper Robert Sanchez owing to the head injury he suffered against Forest, while wingers Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho are doubts.
McFarlane also revealed that despite some “positive” news surrounding teenage debutant Jesse Derry following his horror head injury during the 3-1 defeat, the forward will not play again this season.
“I spoke to Jesse’s dad the night it happened, I spoke to him yesterday, I spoke to the family yesterday as well, and it’s positive, really positive,” added McFarlane.
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“I don’t have the knowledge or the insights to go into massive detail, but all early signs are really positive.
“It’s really disappointing, obviously as long as he’s healthy and the way he’s looking now is what really matters.
“But it was great to give him his debut. I worked with Jesse in the under-21s, he’s had a fantastic season.
“He’s not going to be available for us from now to the end of the season now, so it’s an abrupt end to his season.
“But it was amazing for him to make his debut and I think he showed in that first half his quality and what he can bring to this team.”
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