Xabi Alonso was brutally honest about Chelsea’s shortcomings after his side crashed to a fourth Premier League defeat of the season.
The Blues travelled to the Stadium of Light on Sunday with high hopes of piling more misery on struggling Sunderland.
After falling behind, the visitors produced little of note as they searched for an equaliser — much to Alonso’s disappointment.
The Chelsea boss, 44, said: “I would say there were situations that we could have defended better, situations that we could have got better advantages in attack, but the game was really even, really competitive.
“They were waiting for the chance — and they got it. After they took the lead, we were trying but we were not producing much.
“The first goal is always important and when we were behind we didn’t produce enough.
“It wasn’t the best game. I think that we didn’t deserve more than probably one point. The game was really close.
“Not much happened, to be honest, just that action [for the Sunderland penalty].
“We had the cross in the first half, the header from Morgan Rogers, but we didn’t produce enough to deserve to win.
“We were against a low block. We missed a bit of patience and a bit of quality, creativity in the last third to create more chances.
“You need to be more consistent to move the ball from one side to the other. We didn’t do good enough.”
With a number of first-team players out through injury, Alonso will hope the international break gives Chelsea time to recuperate ahead of a clash with Leeds on November 21.
Josh Acheampong and Emi Martinez both missed out on Wearside, while Jorrel Hato, Jamie Gittens, Reece James, Maxence Lacroix and Joao Pedro remain sidelined.
Alonso added: “Josh felt something and was not fit to play. Martinez made a great effort to be available but probably it was too rash, too risky.
“We are shorter in options and we need to go through this time.
“Even when we win, or when we lose, we miss some players that we have injured and for sure we are waiting to have them back because they are important.
“Now we need to use the time to recover them. But with the players we have, we have to get ready for the next one.”
Mike Penders, who has stood in for Martinez since the Argentine underwent jaw surgery, echoed his manager’s sentiments and called on the Blues to remain united.
He said: “It’s a matter of staying together. I think we’ve had some good games, but after losing these games, we have to stick together.
“It’s the international break now, so we can calm our heads. When we come back we need to all be motivated and go again.”
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