Chelsea players must step up, claims Joao Pedro

Joao Pedro insisted it is on Chelsea’s players to step up and take responsibility as they aim to arrest their dismal form.

Chelsea lost 3-1 to Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge to make it six straight league defeats.

Cole Palmer missed a penalty and Joao Pedro saw a goal disallowed before finally ending Chelsea’s 634-minute drought with a fantastic bicycle kick in second-half stoppage time.

Forest led 2-0 after 15 minutes, the third earliest a side has been 2-0 up away to Chelsea in a Premier League match after Manchester United in October 1995 (nine minutes) and United again in October 2012 (12 minutes).

Chelsea have lost six consecutive league games for the fourth time in their history, and for the first time since October/November 1993, and Joao Pedro knows the players must take the blame.

He told Sky Sports: “From the beginning, we conceded too early and against Forest it’s difficult to change the game. I think we should do better.

“We need to find a way to try to not make these mistakes every game. We need to start to win games. This is the Premier League and if you concede too early after that it’s very difficult to come back.

“Everyone needs to look at themselves – me included. We need to find a way to do better. I feel sorry for the fans.

“It’s difficult because I don’t think it’s about the coach. It’s about the players and it’s on us to step up, me included. It’s difficult to say something.

“We support the leaders [in the team]. We always talk to each other to find a way to win games. Last week we won [in the FA Cup] against Leeds [United], this week it didn’t happen, we need to find a way to win.

“The motivation is always there – if we won we would be able to [qualify] for the Champions League. Now [it] will be more difficult, but we need to still fight for every game and for every point and see what we can achieve.”