Antonio Rudiger admits Chelsea are low on confidence after poor run

Antonio Rudiger admits Chelsea players are low on confidence and have become mentally tired amid the struggles of Maurizio Sarri’s reign.

Chelsea manager Sarri is under growing pressure amid a dismal run of form that has seen the club crash out of the FA Cup to Manchester United and lose three consecutive Premier League away games against Arsenal, Manchester City and Bournemouth.

Rudiger said: ‘We are always working in training trying to do better each day. I think, right now, it’s about confidence. It’s not a tactical aspect, in my view. It’s confidence. We’re under-performing.’

Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger has admitted that confidence is low among the squad

Gonzalo Higuain looks frustrated during Chelsea’s FA Cup defeat by Manchester United 

Sarri has ordered his players to train on the morning of games and Rudiger admits it is a change of tack from previous managers.

‘Fatigue, no, because it’s not like we are doing box to box runs,’ said Rudiger. ‘It’s not physical. It’s just the tactical things he likes to do. That’s his way, he’s carrying on. Also it’s new for the majority of the players, but we have to adapt to it.

Asked if it becomes mentally tiring, Rudiger said: ‘It’s the same if you sit in the school the whole time listening to someone. Of course, sometimes, it gets mental, but at the end of the day you have to do your job.’

Maurizio Sarri faces a crucial period with games against Malmo, Man City and Tottenham

Rudiger also suggested that Sarri’s training sessions can become mentally tiring for the squad

Rudiger believes that upcoming fixtures against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and Tottenham in the Premier League will demonstrate the ‘truth’ of Chelsea’s quality and be a moment of reckoning.

He said: ‘On Sunday, a big game against City at Wembley. That will show the truth. That will show our way this season. It will be the truth in terms of keeping up with opponents like City, and also Liverpool and Tottenham.’

Asked if the players retain faith in Sarri’s system of play, Rudiger said: ‘I’m not the coach. I’m a football player. This is something the coach has to decide, and we have to follow.

‘You always play for your manager, but you want results. You want to win. No player on earth likes to have the kind of run we’ve had.’