Carlo Ancelotti admits he is experiencing his toughest days since joining Chelsea and he is ordering rearguard action to bring the good times back.
The 50-year-old certainly doesn't lack for experience at the top level of the game and knowledge gained over many seasons tells him the road to recovery begins with improving matters at the back.
He identifies the home defeat by Manchester City last month as the starting point for the downturn and as he takes his team to Portsmouth on Wednesday with just two wins in the last eight away league games, says:
'This is the most difficult moment of the season, but we don't have to be afraid to say this and we are working to close this moment immediately with a victory.
'During this period we had a lot of injuries and didn't have to possibility to rotate using our squad but this is not an excuse.
'Every team has a difficult moment in the season. In the past I had every year a problem with the team and every year the right way forward was to stay focused defensively.
'We have to have more discipline on the pitch and have stay focused on the defensive positions and I spoke to the players about this. It is very important not to concede a goal.
'The statistics say we were winning a lot of games and the other teams then equalise,' he highlights.
'Our behaviour is to attack every time and also when we are winning. Maybe we need different behaviour and to stay more focused on defending when we are winning.'
Giving the ups-and-downs of a long season, it is only at the end of the fixtures that Ancelotti believes an accurate assessment of Chelsea this campaign can be made, but whatever the final trophy haul he expects to lead the Blues into the next campaign.
'I have a very good relationship with the club and with Roman [Abramovich] and my position is not in discussion. I have two years of contract left and I have no problem to confirm this.'
The 50-year-old certainly doesn't lack for experience at the top level of the game and knowledge gained over many seasons tells him the road to recovery begins with improving matters at the back.
He identifies the home defeat by Manchester City last month as the starting point for the downturn and as he takes his team to Portsmouth on Wednesday with just two wins in the last eight away league games, says:
'This is the most difficult moment of the season, but we don't have to be afraid to say this and we are working to close this moment immediately with a victory.
'During this period we had a lot of injuries and didn't have to possibility to rotate using our squad but this is not an excuse.
'Every team has a difficult moment in the season. In the past I had every year a problem with the team and every year the right way forward was to stay focused defensively.
'We have to have more discipline on the pitch and have stay focused on the defensive positions and I spoke to the players about this. It is very important not to concede a goal.
'The statistics say we were winning a lot of games and the other teams then equalise,' he highlights.
'Our behaviour is to attack every time and also when we are winning. Maybe we need different behaviour and to stay more focused on defending when we are winning.'
Giving the ups-and-downs of a long season, it is only at the end of the fixtures that Ancelotti believes an accurate assessment of Chelsea this campaign can be made, but whatever the final trophy haul he expects to lead the Blues into the next campaign.
'I have a very good relationship with the club and with Roman [Abramovich] and my position is not in discussion. I have two years of contract left and I have no problem to confirm this.'
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