Kurt Zouma has admitted that Chelsea have been too relaxed in recent weeks as their title defence has faltered in dramatic fashion.
Saturday’s defeat to West Ham was the champion’s fifth defeat in ten league games, leaving them perched just three places above the relegation zone and their manager Jose Mourinho under growing pressure.
It has been a surprise fall from grace for a side that lost just three games in the entirety of last season, one that Zouma maintains is the fault of the players and not their under-fire manager.
“We have relaxed too much mentally,” he told the Sun. “Our feet got too close to the fire.”
“I don’t know why we have not been able to achieve good things this season with the great players we have in our squad. But we are starting to wake up.
“We are all motivated – not to make a spectacular comeback but simply to return to our normal levels.”
Chelsea’s defence has been a particular cause for concern as his backline has already conceded 19 goals in their opening 10 games. Branislav Ivanovic has particularly struggled for form during recent months, forcing Mourinho to employ a number of short-term measures.
Player Ratings: Dynamo Kiev vs Chelsea
Zouma took on the right-back role in the Champions League match with Dynamo Kiev, putting in a solid defensive display without ever troubling his opponents down the right flank.
The 21-year-old centre back admitted to struggling with the new role, saying: “The manager played me at right-back against Dynamo Kiev and it was the first time in ages I have played in that role. I didn’t get my bearings.
“My favoured role is in central defence.”
Zouma has played every minute of Chelsea’s Champions League campaign so far as he competes with Gary Cahill and John Terry for a role in the first-choice defence.
