Former Chelsea skipper John Terry believes getting back to basic will help Xabi Alonso’s reshaped squad push forward this season.
Encouraging signs have emerged under Alonso since his summer appointment, with the Blues bouncing back from a spirited defeat against champions Arsenal with a 6-3 victory over Leeds in the Carabao Cup.
However, Chelsea were subsequently held to a frustrating 2-2 draw by Hull at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Morgan Rogers, a costly arrival from Aston Villa, scored early for Chelsea before Mohamed Belloumi’s double put the Premier League newcomers ahead by half-time, with Joao Pedro eventually scoring a second-half equaliser.
Chelsea now have seven points from their opening four league games, placing them sixth prior to Friday night’s west London derby at Brentford, who are undefeated after three draws.
Terry – a five-time Premier League and FA Cup winner who also lifted the 2012 Champions League – wants the players to focus on core principles to establish consistency.
“The only advice I can give in these moments, and when you go through these moments as a player, (is) do the basics really well,” Terry explained during a review of the Hull game on his YouTube channel.
“When you have got time to play on the ball, you have got to be really comfortable because that is the game now, but when you get opportunities, especially against teams like that (Hull) that are going to throw bodies in the box, long crosses, long throws, direct balls from the goalkeeper, you have to win those battles.
“So again (it is) the real basics of blocks, tackles, headers from corners, from long throw-ins, all of these bits – just get the ball as far away as possible as you can, and get people in front of you working as hard as possible. For me, that’s the real basics, (and) you don’t see enough of it now.”
Terry added: “That is where the supporters want to see an outstretched body, take one in the leg, put it out for a corner.
“The amount of times I used to make tackles or a big header, and the supporters would love it – they are the bits as a defender that have to get your blood going, and it is those little moments that we need to get better at.”
Terry viewed the Hull match as a lost chance to climb the table and hopes for a positive performance at Brentford before the international break.
“I think, firstly, we need to get settled,” he said. “Let’s not panic, but it just feels like it is an opportunity missed this weekend.
“But Friday night becomes massive now before international break, it is a game we now have to go and win.”
