Chelsea’s start to the 2022-23 Premier League season has already been up and down despite being five games in, which has seen Thomas Tuchel’s side collect just seven points from a possible 15.
Two wins, one draw and two defeats have been the return for Chelsea, which saw them win on the opening day away to Everton, but get well-beaten by Leeds United and Southampton on the road.
Tuchel’s team showed fight and character against Tottenham and Leicester City (W1, D1), but that was far from the story on Tuesday night down on the south coast against Southampton.
A 2-1 loss was hardly a real reflection of the game at St Mary’s. Marc Cucurella’s block and Thiago Silva’s goal-line clearance in the second half saved Chelsea from conceding further.
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Chelsea have just over a day until the summer transfer window closes which gives them time to offload unwanted players, as well as trying to bring in players to freshen up and bolster the squad.
West Ham are Chelsea’s next opponents on Saturday and the Blues will be desperate to show an instant response to get back to winning ways and continue their unbeaten start at Stamford Bridge.
But Tuchel needs time to reflect on the defeat against Southampton first and wants to assess the squad once the window closes.
He told Chelsea TV post-match: "If you ask me for the plan for the game, I have none so far which is normal.
"First of all, the plan is to understand what’s going on and then the plan is to push this group to the very limit from Thursday when we know what the group is.
“This will help us to toughen up: mentally and physically stronger because we are not strong enough at the moment how we act and act as a group.”
Tuchel knows solutions need to be found but acknowledges he will gain a better understanding when the window closes to learn the extent of the commitment levels from his players.
He added: "Maybe, maybe. But the line is so thin between excuses and explanations, so I better not go down this road because I don't want to give any chance for anybody – myself, staff players – any room for excuses.
"We need to find solutions. What will help is the closing of the transfer window.
"We will know then who has the full commitment, what we demand, what role everybody needs to play and fulfil.
"And then everybody, including myself, needs to step up to a new level of performance because these are ok performances, not a disaster, but they are ok and ok can never be enough for us."
Cesar Azpilicueta also weighed in and told Chelsea they need to be honest with themselves to find more consistency and get back to winning ways.
"We are a team that will reflect on what we do, what we can improve as a group and individually. We have to be honest with ourselves, we know that we can be better, and from there we have to work hard, we need to get back to winning ways.
"We came back from a defeat against Leeds and we turned things around against Leicester, and still again at Southampton we lose. We are inconsistent and we need to find consistency."
Topics: Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea, Premier League, West Ham United, Southampton
Matthew Debono