Chelsea defender and vice-captain Branislav Ivanovic has stated that the players did nothing that Antonio Conte asked of them against Arsenal last night, Daily Star reports.
The Blues were blown away by disastrous defensive mistakes in their 3-0 away defeat to the Gunners, as Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Mesut Özil enjoyed a rocking first half against the Italian’s Blues side.
Ivanovic says Chelsea had a bad opening to the game, lacking concentration to details what Conte asked for them to focus on, and claims it’s very important for the team to bounce back as soon as possible.
We didn’t start the game in the way we wanted. We didn’t believe in what we were doing at the beginning and we were punished.
As a team we didn’t answer anything the manager asked of us, we have to be honest with ourselves and put more attention on the small details. We have to be more focused and concentrated on the game.
Ivanovic believes that all players felt the same after the match, and tips the team to push forward from here, as team-work is the most important of all traits towards success.
I know it’s very disappointing and it hurts all of us, but the opinion of everyone in the dressing room was in the same direction.
We have to build on that, stay together, work hard, and believe in what we are doing. I am sure we can come out of it stronger. We have to stick together.
Chelsea have only been able to claim one point from their last three Premier League games and are currently placed eight in the league table – eight points beneath the top of the table Manchester City.
Nothing in life or in football comes easy, you always go up and down, but we know when you’re in a difficult position you have to work hard and prepare for the next game.
I hope we are mentally ready for the challenge.
Despite the poor run of games, the Serbian full-back is reluctant to see any playing philosophies change after a few defeats, and thinks the team will be ‘very dangerous’ once they’ve embraced Conte’s ideal style of play.
In this league every game is a different story, but it doesn’t mean you have to change your philosophy if you win or lose a game.
We have worked very hard on different ways. Our way of playing has changed a bit and you always need time.
In the last two games it has not been the usual Chelsea way, but if it starts working it will be very good for us. We will be very, very dangerous.
Chelsea will be facing Hull City in a week’s time, and the 32-year-old sees strong faith as way to success.
We have another week to prepare for a very hard away game. We know how difficult it is to play a team with a different shape to yours.
We have to work hard but this is something normal. We have to be on top of our game and our performances week-by-week to get points from every game.
We have to believe in what we are doing and the results of that will come.
