Chelsea boss, Frank Lampard, has said they have been losing matches, because the players continue to drop off.
Lampard, speaking ahead of the Aston Villa game on Tuesday, however admitted he never expected this season to be “plain sailing”.
He has now called on his players to stay mentally strong during a “difficult little period”.
Chelsea’s 3-1 loss at Arsenal on Boxing Day was their third consecutive away defeat in the Premier League this season.
Lampard’s side were unbeaten in their first five away league games this term, keeping three clean sheets, but their recent poor form on the road continued against a Gunners team who went into the match in 15th place and without a Premier League win since November 1.
Asked whether he learns more about his players now during a difficult run, Lampard said: “I think you certainly do. I learn about the players and the players learn about themselves. Some of them are young, some of them are new to the Premier League and these tough times are things we will have to go through.
“I didn’t think this season was ever going to be plain sailing and winning every week. We got confident when we got into a position where we were not losing games and winning a lot of games, and things are pretty easy at that point.
“When you lose a couple of games they become much tougher and the only way out of it is to fight and to work hard, so that’s what I will be instilling in the players because it’s the only way you get out of what is a difficult little period for us.
“It’s a case of staying mentally strong and bringing back the good basics to get you on that run, because we have a talented squad.
“The few defeats we’ve had recently are because we dropped off, the players have dropped off a level and my job is to pick it back up.”
