Ivanovic: "Time is running out!"
Branislav Ivanovic is a player who appears in the press and media every now and then ahead of some big games. This morning, he has spoken with honesty about our season and the team’s performances of late and he has hit the nail on the head.
He said:
“It was disappointing for all of us in Bucharest, but we have to be honest with each other. We have to look in the mirror and see that a lot of things right now are not going how we would like them to. But we have to be strong, we have to stay everybody together and try to finish the season, if we can, at the highest level.
We are not playing at the level we know we can. If we are realistic this has become normal, and we have to change this quick, because games are passing us by. One by one. Time is running out for us, and if we want to change things we have to show more character: to play as a team, show fighting spirit as a team.
This team was in the same situation last season, and we finished that season well. We have to show the strength to change everything because, from now on in, every game for us is going to be harder and harder and much more difficult. It’s not all about fighting spirit. We have to be honest with each other, with ourselves, and try to change this as quick as possible.
This is a game for us to show character, and a game to react to what happened in Bucharest. We have to be mentally ready because we have two days less to prepare for a game which will be difficult and physical.
The gap between us and them shows we have not done well enough this season. That is something for us to be thinking about. So this is going to be very tough – one of the biggest challenges for us this season. But it’s not the time to look back at what’s gone wrong. We have to look forward and try and change our situation from now on in, to believe we can do better between now and the end of the season.”
I’m glad he has come out and said what he has, also admitting that with things going wrong it’s seems to be the “norm” at the moment. How many times in recent weeks have we watched us play in certain games and thought “this is woeful!”?.
Ahead of tomorrow, Chelsea sit a massive 19 points behind Manchester United in the Premier League and it’s almost unheard of. I personally don’t think that there is a massive gulf in class and quality between the two sides.
The difference between the two is the fact that United are flexible in their approach to games and have a striker (or two!) that can score goals and have done all season.
Ivanovic is right, another dire performance tomorrow and it leaves us with just the Europa League and the battle with Arsenal for fourth place in the Premier League to fight for.
From a season that promised so much it’s been a disaster and another defeat tomorrow will make things worse!.
Chelsea need to wake up, wise up and pull together if we are to have any chance of achieving the clubs main objective this season. We need our big players to lead the way and get the others fighting for the shirt.
I hope they listened to Ivanovic!
Carefree & KTBFFH