Cesar Azpilicueta on Man City defeat: We made so many mistakes

Chelsea Captain Cesar Azpilicueta spoke about the aspects of the team’s performance in which Chelsea fell short compared to their usual high standards in their loss against Manchester City. The Blues had dropped just two points in the first five league matches, and those were at Anfield. However, on Saturday, Chelsea lost 0-1 to Manchester City in the Premier League. For the first time in all competitions in 2021-22, Chelsea now have to bounce back from their defeat. It was Gabriel Jesus’ goal in the second half that gave defending champions Manchester City all three points on Saturday.

“We are disappointed with the result, it was not our best performance,” admitted Azpilicueta, as per the club’s website. “Especially in the first 60 minutes it was hard to get out. We didn’t create chances, we lost the ball too easily. They dominated us. After the goal we had a good reaction, we pushed a bit but it was not enough to get something from the game.

“Sometimes when you play against tough opponents they play well, they are that their best level. We could not keep the ball as we like to do or get out of the pressure and find some spaces. We made so many mistakes in terms of passing, in terms of touches. We tried to stay in the game but from a short corner we lost the game.’

Next up is a trip to Italy to take on Serie A giants Juventus in the Champions League. “Every competition is different, every game is a new challenge,” said the skipper. “Against City we lost, we are disappointed, we had the chance to get three important points but now we have to analyse it, improve on what we did not do that well and move on to the next game because it is a long season. We did not lose the league on Saturday, just as if we had won we knew we did not win the league on Saturday, so we have to keep working.”

Thomas Tuchel: We were never on our highest level

Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel admitted that his side were not at their best against a solid Manchester City team at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

“We lost the game and City deserved to win,” Tuchel was quoted as saying by the club’s website. “For 60 minutes, until the goal, we were very strong in the last [defensive] 20 metres of the field but only there unfortunately. The other 80 metres, we were not good enough. We were never on our highest level. You cannot expect to get a result. It could turn around maybe with one header but we have to accept it was not our best game.

“We did not have ball possession to hurt them, to grow in confidence. It never happened in the first half or the second half. Until the goal, we defended the box very well but the performance was not complex enough. We were not on our very best level and you need the best level to push the game against this side.”