Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca admits his side is in a tough place but is confident his side can emerge from their slump.
The Blues fell to a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday evening, with the London club dropping to sixth in the process.
It was their fifth loss of the campaign, the same amount as Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Brighton.
Noni Madueke put the visitors ahead early after a mistake by Abdulkodir Khosanov, but the hosts led, with goals from Josko Gvardjoyol, Erling Haaland and Vjoden.
Maresca reflected on the match, admitting that he was frustrated by the missed opportunities.
He said: “The game started very well for us. We scored the first and could have scored the second two or three times. The game had completely changed. We missed it.
“The team was there but in the last minutes, we conceded 1-1. The second goal changed the game. Robert is the first (to admit) and he knows he has to do better. Working hard every day (is the way to improve). We are trying. Have conversations with all of them.
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“We are making progress. We are better than a month or two ago. These moments will make us better.
“We scored the first one and they could have scored the second one and then against this team and these players, the game is always open. We conceded at the end of the first half and then the second half was probably 50/50.
“When you concede at the end of the first half, the best way is to avoid that. Maybe for me, the game is different if we score the second.
“We need to be better but also play the way we play, we scored the first and they could have scored the second. If we can score it, it could be a completely different game for us.”
Maresca added that he knows the city has quality players who can punish any opposition in the world.
He again goalkeeper Robert Sanchez after he was caught in no-man's land for the second.
They have players at any moment who can change the game.
“In my opinion, we are better off in one to two months.
“Robert (Sanchez) is the first one to realize the mistake. I think the second goal changed the mood.
“We're in a moment – game after game, it's an opportunity for us to learn.”
