Defeat to Manchester City on Saturday would leave the Blues trailing by 13 points, but the defender believes the title race is not over yet
Marcos Alonso is refusing to rule Chelsea out of the Premier League title race despite Manchester City's already healthy advantage over Maurizio Sarri's side.
The defending champions' 2-1 victory at Watford on Tuesday combined with the Blues' shock reverse by the same scoreline at Wolves 24 hours later means City head to Stamford Bridge this weekend with a 10-point cushion over their opponents.
Sarri has repeatedly insisted that he is not considering his team as genuine challengers to City's crown, but left-back Alonso believes it is too soon to write off their chances.
"It's too early to talk about it, obviously. If we lose [on Saturday] we are going to be 13 points from the top and that's a lot of points but we have to think, prepare for the game well, and not pay attention to the table at the moment," he said.
"It is the perfect opportunity to come back. It will be a great game for sure, everyone will be very motivated to play.
"We are very disappointed after the defeat but it is back to work and we will work harder and start playing better as a team."
Chelsea have won only one of their previous four league outings and Alonso says it is time to rediscover the philosophy that saw them go 12 unbeaten at the start of Sarri's reign.
He added: "We have to play more as a team. It's something we have to analyse, we will try our best to improve as soon as possible.
"We're not doing very well at the moment. More individually [than] as a team, we have to get better as a collective.
"We had the chances to win, we were controlling the game and started the second half having a couple of chances.
"The last few games we were not loyal to our style of play and, even if we did not deserve it, we lose.
"We are going through a hard moment and you have to work very hard, stay together and get back to winning as soon as possible."
The Blues’ clash with City is one of seven more fixtures that Sarri’s side will face before the end of December, including a Carabao Cup quarter-final with Bournemouth and a Boxing Day trip to Watford.
Voocelmpu
200
Sari should just go already he's useless at Chelsea how do you loose games with such a vibrant squad like that. how do you expect to score goals if most of the time, the ball is always being played at the back, yet we turn to blame strikers Sari isn't doing his job well..
kebaklmosy
181
Chelsea is struggling to score gaols. we need a prolific striker, the type that can deliver 20 and above goals per season. the last such striker was Costa...
jupdinotuz
134
we should give Sarri support please. He is transforming Chelsea from defensive to offensive football. Rome was not built in a day,give him time. Can't you remember Guardiola with city in his first season?
Micah 001
78
Marcos Alonso sounds so loyal n genuine while his infield form tells us the opposite, am already fade up with his attitude... how can u give chelsea supporters hopes of tittle challenge to city if we are already trailing 10points bhind them... yet u claim we as chelsea should remain as a collective... albeit alonso get crias... willian work correctly on ur cards... morata change ur fragile mentality, luiz stick at the back four and stay compact... Sarribal is about focus and sharpness... Sarri be selective of ur squad and unleash the potential in forgotten hardworking players auch as Emerson Palmieri and make chelsea great again... av arrested this... lets play with agility when facing city and let each and evry touch on the ball count for full match control otherwise wishing all the blues and all football fans a great weekend ahead... enjoy