• Champions League

Chelsea are 'suffering a lot' admits Villas-Boas

ESPN staff
November 23, 2011
Chelsea were beaten at the death by Leverkusen © Getty Images
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Andre Villas-Boas challenged his Chelsea team to cut out the errors after they were beaten 2-1 by Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.

Defeat means Chelsea have now won only one of their last five games, leaving their Premier League and Champions League dreams in danger. The Blues are 12 points behind Manchester City domestically, while in Europe they are heading for a winner-takes-all match with Valencia.

Didier Drogba had given Chelsea the lead in Germany, only for two headed goals in the final 17 minutes to completely turn the match on its head in Leverkusen's favour. Villas-Boas wants concentration from his defenders for 90 minutes.

"Our focus must be at the moment on Valencia at home," said the Portuguese. "We are still in front of Valencia but it will be a good head-to-head battle, decisive.

"It's tough for the English clubs at the moment in the Champions League but we have to face it, put on a brave face and get back to the wins.

"We've been suffering a lot, conceding a lot of goals, we haven't conceded from a corner for a long time - I think that was the first time.

"We were compact and disciplined in set plays but one detail in the last moment [cost us]. There are no perfect organisations. One small detail makes the whole difference and in this competition you pay heavily.

"We need to get the concentration and focus right. No excuses - if we have to go one more step up that's what we have to do."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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