Chelsea must react and use Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Arsenal as motivation going forwards, Marcos Alonso has told the club’s official website.
The Blues were second best throughout against the Gunners despite having the lion’s share of possession, and manager Maurizio Sarri was furious with his players following the defeat and stated they lack motivation when it comes to gearing up for big games.
Alonso came closest to scoring for Chelsea after his header struck the post moments before half-time, and the Spaniard also mustered up the Blues’ only shot on target in the game, in the 82nd minute.
Speaking to the club’s website, Alonso said Chelsea were poor throughout and made too many errors on the night.
We made silly mistakes. We provoked them to gain confidence and come to press us because we were making mistakes. In the second half we tried but it was too late and we couldn’t score.
Defeat to Arsenal meant the Blues missed the chance to increase the gap between themselves, the Gunners and, now, Manchester United, who are level on points with Unai Emery’s side, to nine points, which Alonso believes was a big opportunity missed for Chelsea.
It was a good opportunity. We wasted it and now have to work even harder to stay in the Champions League position and win games. It has to motivate us.
Chelsea host Tottenham in another crucial game on Thursday evening, as they attempt to overturn a 1-0 deficit in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Spurs.
And Alonso told the club’s website the Blues need to react if they are to progress to the final.
When you lose, you learn. We have to analyse the game and improve quickly because there is no time to think. We have to perform again in four days.
