Azpilicueta: We need more players

Cesar Azpilicueta, just like the Chelsea faithful and head coach Antonio Conte, senses that the Blues need to get additional quality players in the squad before the transfer window ends on August 31.

The Blues were humbled by Burnley 3-2 on Saturday as their title defence got off to the worst possible start.

To add insult to injury, skipper Gary Chaill and Cesc Fabregas were sent off. Azpilicueta said: "You can see the players we have lost and the players we have brought in and that it is not the same. We have good young players but we have to know the reality. “We know that being champions is even harder the next season - we have experience of that. Obviously we need players, also for the development of the young players.

“They need the help from top senior players, not to rush them into a position where maybe they are not ready to go at the moment, but they could be in the future.

"I think it's something that the club is working on with the manager and hopefully we can get new signings in the next few weeks.”

The likes of Leicester City’s Danny Drinkwater as cover for Eden Hazard, Danny Rose to push Marcos Alonso and a couple from Ross Barkley, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or even Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Bertrand could see themselves enter the revolving door at SW6 before the end of August.

Meanwhile Conte said: “I am not worried. It's normal during the game to have different situations, positive and negative situations.

[caption id="attachment_28593" align="alignright" width="300"]Chelsea manager Antonio Conte gestures on the touchline[/caption]

"It's important for me that we don't close our eyes, but to focus on our mistakes, to work and to improve." "We have to work and put all of ourselves in our job. If you do this every day, you must be happy. "Sometimes the result can't be good, but the most important thing is I'm seeing from my players the right commitment, the right will, the right desire to work and to try to improve.

"The same goes for my staff and for me. We have to give all of ourselves, to try to put in 120 per cent, every single person. I must be the first, then the staff and then the players." "I think the club is trying to do the best in the transfer market and then I'm a coach. "Now the season has started, my focus has to be on the pitch. To work with these players. "Now this is my squad, this is my team and I want to go to fight with these players and this team. Then the club is doing the work."