EPL: Chelsea have to wake up, says Branislav Ivanovic

Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic (right) gestures as John Terry (centre) and Radamel Falcao look on at Goodison Park on Saturday

London: Branislav Ivanovic accepts stuttering champions Chelsea need to raise their game, but is convinced one win can provide the spark to kickstart their campaign.


Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic (right) gestures as John Terry (centre) and Radamel Falcao look on at Goodison Park on Saturday. Pic/AFP

Chelsea's dismal start to their Barclays Premier League title defence continued as a Steven Naismith hat-trick sent them crashing to a 3-1 defeat at Everton on Saturday.

The result left Jose Mourinho's men with just four points from five games and reflecting on a third defeat in their last four outings.

They lost only three in the league in the whole of last season and their sequence constitutes the club's worst start to a top-flight season since 1986.

Defender Ivanovic told Chelsea TV: "We need one big win to come back to our way.

"We are not playing as badly as the results are showing but we have to wake up.

"I think at the moment we are being punished for all our mistakes. The only way we can change is to work hard and be ready for the next game, so it is like a final and we have to play like a final."

Chelsea will hope to spring into life as they launch their latest Champions League campaign against Maccabi Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

Hoping for a win
Ivanovic said: "The next game is very important for us. It is a new competition and it is time to change all this situation. I hope we will start winning the games soon."

The 28-year-old said: "It has been a tough start to the season for me. I have not played as many games. As a player it is hard to keep taking when you are on the bench but you have got to be ready.

"I have got confidence in my ability and when you get the opportunities you have got to prove that. Here I have done that and hopefully there is a bright future for me."