Rosenior critical of Chelsea players but denies lack of effort

Liam Rosenior was reluctantly critical of his players after Chelsea’s dire performance at Everton.

The 3-0 defeat was Chelsea’s fourth consecutive loss in all competitions.

They have now won just one of their past six Premier League matches – a run which has included three defeats.

Beto scored Everton’s first two goals, with the second coming when keeper Robert Sanchez allowed a shot to squirm through him and over the line.

But the opening goal, which came after the visitors switched off, also annoyed their head coach, who up to now has been unwilling to point the finger at players.

The defence was opened up by James Garner’s pass and Beto finished after getting the better of Wesley Fofana.

Rosenior said: “I want to protect my players always. I always will. And I take responsibility for that lapse in concentration – but that’s what it is and it’s happened too many times recently for me not to tell the truth as it is.”

Rosenior admitted that it was the “most disappointing” Chelsea performance under him so far, and that “the result and performance was nowhere near what we expected or wanted.”

But he insisted the players are not guilty of a lack of effort.

“I don’t think there’s a lack of effort. I don’t think there’s a lack of belief or determination in the team,” he said.

“I’m aware when you’re on a run of defeats that we’re on, and when you’re on a run of performances that we’ve had, those things get levelled at you. But I don’t think that’s an issue at this moment.”

Chelsea’s next game is at home to Port Vale in the FA Cup quarter-finals on 4 April . Their next league game is against Manchester City, also at home, on 12 April.