- Maurizio Sarri blamed his players as Chelsea suffered a 2-0 defeat to Everton in EPL tie
- The defeat dented Chelsea's hopes of sealing a top four place in the Premier League
- They currently sit sixth on the standings with 57 points after 30 games played this term
Chelsea's hopes of sealing a top four finish in the Premier League were dented on Sunday, March 17, after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Everton at Goodinson Park.
Two second half goals from Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson earned the Toffees a comfortable victory before their faithfuls.
Reacting to the defeat, the Blues' boss, Maurizio Sarri, exonerated himself from any blame, pointing a finger at his players.
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"We stopped to defend, to counter-attack, to everything. We had only to continue, I think. We were in control of the match. We played very well and needed to continue," the Metro UK quoted Sarri.
The Italian tactician questioned his players' mentality for putting up a lethargic performance despite being in control of the fixture through the first half.
Sarri further insisted no tactical decision would have changed the outcome of the match.
"Tactically, if you don’t play, you don’t play. We changed the system but it was the same. It’s very difficult but I think the problem was mental. If you have a mental problem suddenly on the pitch, the system, the tactics is not enough," he observed.
The Stamford Bridge outfit currently sit sixth on the standings with 57 points, one behind fifth-placed Manchester United.
With eight matches left before the conclusion of the campaign, Chelsea will be seeking to bounce back to winning ways to book a slot in next season's Champions League.
Earlier, Legit.ng had reported how Everton defeated Chelsea 2-0 in a tough Premier League clash on Sunday, March 17, at Goodison Park.
The encounter saw Chelsea start in the front foot after Eden Hazard’s decent shot in the 6th minute, but Everton shot-stopper Jordan Pickford was on hand to make a save, with scores still at 0-0.
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Source: Legit.ng
