Branislav Ivanovic says Chelsea need to learn to cope with the pressure of being champions after an abysmal start to the new Premier League season.
The Blues are shell-shocked after a 2-2 opening-day draw at home to Swansea was followed by Sunday’s 3-0 thrashing at Manchester City, leaving them already five points behind their rivals.
Boss Jose Mourinho also took off captain John Terry at half-time, for the first time in his two spells as Chelsea manager, after worrying defensive lapses at the Etihad were exploited by Sergio Aguero.
The introduction of Kurt Zouma made no difference in the end as City were convincing winners and defender Ivanovic, who was culpable for late goals from Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho, admits his side have to regroup quickly and improve.
“Last year we won the title, but honestly, we know this is another season now and we play with more pressure and need to adapt to that,” said the Serbian international right-back, aware that no side has won back-to-back titles since Manchester United in 2009.
“We have to forget last season and start thinking about getting the points we need this season.
“Every team is improving. We can be better and have to show that on the pitch. It was a very difficult game and disappointing result for us, but this is done now and we can’t go back.
“We haven’t done well in the first two games but there is another 36 to go and we know we have to improve ourselves.
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“I think we tried to do everything we could [against City] and in some parts we controlled the game, but after that then maybe our concentration went down and we let them create some problems for us.
“They scored the goals and won the game, but for us we know what we have to do [now].”
Amidst the row about the demotion and future roles of club doctor Eva Carneiro and physio Jon Fearn, Chelsea currently look a shadow of the side that stormed to the title last season in supreme style, losing just three times and finishing eight points clear of second-placed City.
Mourinho will look to address defensive concerns with the arrival of Augsburg left-back Abdul Baba Rahman and possibly John Stones should Everton accept an offer of more than £30 million for the 21-year-old centre-back.
Ivanovic admits their rivals have got better, but they will still be trying to remain England’s No1 side and the current gap to City is not a concern.
Chelsea have failed to win either of their first two Premier League games for the first time since 1998/99. pic.twitter.com/OAcCw5g5Rg
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“I don’t think so,” he added. “At the moment it looks big after two games, but we just have to focus on our situation, ourselves instead and how we can improve.
“This is the Premier League, every game is like a final and we know we have to look forward.
“We have to get better for the next 36 games and for sure we won’t give up after just two bad results.
“There is still a long way to go. Every game can be like a final and you have to be on top of your game all the time, to beat your opponent, imp-rove yourself and get the points and I think we will start doing better.”
With West Brom to follow on Saturday, Mourinho claimed he was not worried by the bad beginning and striker Diego Costa believes a first win will soon lift spirits.
“The coach did the pre-season just as he needed to, our fitness is fine, we just need to win a game and everything will change,” he said.
“We need to improve right now, we need to do things better. But we need to keep a cool head and communicate better.”
