Chelsea getting their confidence back, says Azpilicueta
>> LONDON: Premier League champions Chelsea are getting their confidence back after winning backto-back games for only the second time this campaign, says defender Cesar Azpilicueta.
The Blues downed Norwich City 1-0 on Sunday in the Premier League and then beat Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv 4-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Chelsea, who sit 15th in the table after a dismal start to the season, will be looking to win back-to-back league games for the first time this campaign when they play against Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow, who are unbeaten in 12 league matches.
“It’s a start. Obviously we want to carry on, we are in a position where we’ve come from two wins in a row, two games in which we’ve played really well and players are getting confidence back,” said Azpilicueta.
“We’ll take it step by step. Now we have a tough game against Tottenham away on Sunday [tomorrow] and we want to keep going.”
Aston Villa, who are bottom of the table, have not won since the opening day of the season with Remi Garde stepping in as manager after Tim Sherwood was sacked.
Garde begun with a draw against Manchester City on Nov 8 but lost 4-0 at Everton last weekend.
Villa have scored 10 goals, the fewest in the league, and have shipped 24 goals in 13 matches with centreback Richards calling on his team mates to change their mentality.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat it, we’ve got too many nice players and we’re too easy to play against. Everybody seems to be — I wouldn’t say passing the blame — but they don’t want to run that extra mile and take responsibility,” Richards told The Daily Telegraph.
“There’s a few good players in the team and they’re probably thinking, ‘If Villa get relegated I’ll get a move in the summer’ — but it doesn’t work like that any more.”
Villa host 13th placed Watford today.