Premier League: Thibaut Courtois keen to bounce back from Chelsea's first defeat
Sunday 7 December 2014 17:24, UK
Thibaut Courtois has urged his Chelsea team-mates to put their first defeat of the season behind them after their 23-game unbeaten run was ended by Newcastle.
The next game is in the Champions League at home and then against Hull, we have to win in front of our fans.
The Premier League leaders suffered a 2-1 defeat at St James’ Park after Papiss Cisse scored a second-half double for Alan Pardew’s side.
Jose Mourinho’s side must now dust themselves down and prepare for Wednesday night’s clash with Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League followed by Hull’s visit on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Courtois told Chelsea TV: "That's the most important, that we are still leaders and from the next game on, we will fight to keep that bonus up and make the gap bigger.
"There are only difficult games in the Premier League and we know that. The next game is in the Champions League at home and then against Hull, we have to win in front of our fans."
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Cisse scored four minutes after climbing off the bench and added his second just over 20 minutes later before Didier Drogba pulled one back after Steven Taylor had been dismissed for a second bookable offence.
However, despite having 13 minutes, including six of stoppage time, in which to find an equaliser, Chelsea could not manage to beat Newcastle’s third-choice goalkeeper Jak Alnwick again.
Courtois said: "Obviously we are disappointed with the result. We tried our best to win this game, and it was a hard game. We were a little bit unlucky.
"At 2-0, it's harder. We tried to fight back, we scored to make it 2-1, but then the ball wouldn't fall right for us and we couldn't draw this game and maybe then win it, so obviously we are disappointed.
"But we will work hard again on Monday in training to win the following games. Everybody worked hard and gave it all on the pitch to win this game, but we know here it is difficult and we went down against them.
"It was a hard game, but we have to stay positive. We are still leaders, but we know these games to be champions you have to win, so from the next game on, we will try our best to win all the games if possible.”
