Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel attacked his squad for failing to keep a clean sheet after suffering a 1-0 loss to relegation-threatened Everton.
An early second-half strike from Richarlison proved to be the only goal of the game as Everton moved to within two points of 17th placed Leeds. Defeat for Chelsea means they have still not confirmed a top four spot, with just two league wins from their last six matches. And Tuchel believes he knows what has been going wrong for his side in recent weeks.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Tuchel admitted that Chelsea have not been performing well enough, highlighting the defense as a key issue.
He said: “We hate to lose, we are responsible for it, it was our responsibility in Old Trafford to not have more – we struggle to have consecutive clean sheets and top performances and that is why we lost today.
“We have to be without mistakes, disciplined in our positions, and don’t make mistakes. When you have that much possession, we did not play our best match but we were in control, and then we gave a goal away and it kills the game for us because it is everything the opponent wants. It is a huge pattern in our season.
“We have now four matches in the last two weeks and one clean sheet, that needs to change. If we try to get away with OK performances that is not good for us, we are a team that needs to be on the very top limit on every match basis. If we try to get away with OK we lose games.
“We struggle with concentration and determination levels and you see that in the last four matches.”
Thomas Tuchel questions ‘unnecessary’ goal
Tuchel further attacked his side for conceding early on in the second-half following a Blues mistake.
Defender Cesar Azpilicueta left the ball to roll across him at the backline, allowing Richarlison to intercept.
Demarai Gray swept onto the loose ball, before feeding it back to the Brazilian to gift his side the lead.
And speaking to BBC Sport, Tuchel admitted the goal could have easily…