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REECE JAMES SLAMS TEAMMATES AFTER SHOCKING COMEBACK DEFEAT TO CLINICAL ASTON VILLA

Chelsea captain Reece James blames "errors" as Ollie Watkins scores twice to give Aston Villa a 2-1 comeback win in London.

Reece James Slams Teammates After Shocking Comeback Defeat to Clinical Aston Villa
Chelsea’s Top-Four Hopes Fade

Chelsea's captain, Reece James, thinks they only have themselves to blame after blowing their lead at halftime and losing 2-1 to Aston Villa.

The Blues were on top in the first half at Stamford Bridge and should've scored more than just João Pedro's goal from James' corner.

Ollie Watkins came off the bench after the break, scoring two goals and shocking the home team. Villa was completely turned around by Unai Emery's subs, catching Chelsea off guard.

We were the better team for 60, 65 minutes, James said. We started strong, setting up the right way and getting on the attack.

They didn't get any chances in the first 60 minutes, and then they got one, and everything changed.

We knew they'd sub players, and the shape would change a bit, but it wasn't something we couldn't handle. We know how they want to play. We can only blame ourselves.

A couple of things in the second half changed the game. They got some energy. We made a couple of small mistakes and paid for them. That's why this league is the toughest. Losing at home is always a letdown.

Chelsea rarely looked this good at home in the first half of this season. Just four minutes in, Cole Palmer controlled the ball well and shot just wide. The England forward also made a strong run, setting up Enzo Fernández, whose shot went past the post.

Pedro got a foot to Pedro Neto's cross, but Emiliano Martínez made a close-range save as Chelsea kept creating chances.

After halftime, John McGinn took the ball from Alejandro Garnacho, and James forced Martinez into a great save. Then Emery made his subs—Watkins, Jadon Sancho, and Amadou Onana—and things changed.

Chelsea now only has one win in their last six Premier League games, dropping from second to fifth.

Lots of teams go through rough patches, James said. We just have to keep trying, game by game. We're fighting every day, trying to get better.

We need to forget this game and concentrate on the next one against Bournemouth in a few days. We have to get ready and come back to win.

Villa's win was their 11th in a row in all competitions and their 12th in 13 league games, keeping them in touch with the top of the Premier League.

Three months ago, they were worried about their poor form after not winning any of their first five league games.

We were very worried three months ago, in August and September, Emery said.

But we weren't looking at the standings; we were just thinking about each game, building a strong structure, and working hard.

WHY WAS COLE PALMER SUBBED? THE REAL REASON BEHIND THE STAMFORD BRIDGE BOOS

Fans booed as Cole Palmer was subbed in Chelsea's draw with Bournemouth. Learn why Maresca was absent and what’s next for the Blues.

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Managing Cole Palmer’s return

After Chelsea's 2-2 tie with Bournemouth, assistant coach Willy Caballero defended the choice to sub off Cole Palmer, even though fans at Stamford Bridge were angry about Enzo Maresca's move.

Fans booed, yelling, You don't know what you're doing! when Palmer—who'd been one of the team's better players—was taken out in the 63rd minute. The home team was trying to score and break their bad Premier League streak at the time.

Chelsea has only won one of their last seven league games. Caballero said afterward that head coach Enzo Maresca, who wasn't there for the post-game interviews due to illness, is still a role model for everyone at the club.

Still, the pressure is on the coach after yet another result slipped away. Chelsea has now lost 13 points at home from winning positions.

The mood got especially sour when Palmer, who just came back from an injury, was taken off in the second half.

Every fan wants the best players on the field, Caballero said. We do, too. But Cole is coming back from a long injury. So we have to figure out the best substitutions to win the game while also keeping our players healthy. We need them for the entire season.

Caballero said about Maresca's absence, "He hasn't been feeling well for the past two days." He had a fever two days ago. He did the last two practices because he wanted to get the team ready. But after the game, he went to the locker room and asked me to fill in because he wasn't feeling well.

He's handling it well and is very professional. He puts in a lot of hours every day, even when he wasn't feeling well the last two days. He loves to train and coach. He's a role model for me and the rest of the staff.

Bournemouth took the lead after six minutes when David Brooks scored on his second try after Robert Sanchez made a save. Then, Palmer scored a penalty to tie the game for Chelsea.

Next, Enzo Fernandez put the home team ahead, but the Blues couldn't hold on to their lead again. Justin Kluivert tied the score before halftime after Chelsea failed to handle a long throw-in from Antoine Semenyo.

There's been a lot of talk that this would be Semenyo's last game for Bournemouth before he moves to Manchester City soon. Before leaving the field, he seemed to say goodbye to the fans who had traveled to see the game.

Still, head coach Andoni Iraola was sure he'd play against Arsenal on Saturday.

It's not his last game here with us, he said. I can't say for sure, but I think he'll play.

He needs to rest. We've played two tough games in three days. We have Arsenal at home, so we're getting ready for another one, a tough game against the leaders. He's going to be important for us.

BREAKING: ENZO MARESCA SKIPS MEDIA AS CHELSEA CRISIS DEEPENS! GET THE HEALTH UPDATE

Enzo Maresca missed the post-match media due to a fever after Chelsea's 2-2 draw. Willy Caballero provides an urgent update on his health.

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Chelsea's winless run continues as Maresca falls ill

Enzo Maresca skipped media interviews after Chelsea's 2-2 tie with Bournemouth because he was sick.

The Blues coach was supposed to chat after his team snagged a point against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

But right before he was about to talk about the game, news dropped that Maresca wasn't feeling good.

So, his assistant, Willy Caballero, stepped in to handle things in west London.

Caballero shared an update on Maresca: He's been under the weather for a couple of days, Caballero said. He had a fever two days ago.

After the game, he went to the locker room and asked me to fill in for him since he wasn't feeling well.

Caballero was asked if he'd be in charge against Manchester City on Sunday, like he was against Villa during Maresca's suspension.

"I'm not sure," he said. I just want Enzo to get better. I think he'll be fine in a day or two.

The draw with Bournemouth means Chelsea has only won one of their last seven Premier League games.

Fans were clearly annoyed during the second half when Cole Palmer was subbed out for Joao Pedro.

Palmer just got back to playing regularly after a groin injury, but some Chelsea fans wondered why he was taken out.

About the boos, Caballero said, "Of course, every fan wants their best players on the field, and so do we."

But Cole is coming off a long injury, so we have to figure out the right subs for the game and also look out for our players since we didn't have him for a while.

Chelsea and Bournemouth had a boring 0-0 draw in their previous match earlier in the month.

But the game at Stamford Bridge was totally different, with Bournemouth taking the lead early on through David Brooks.

Palmer leveled the score with a penalty, and then Enzo Fernandez blasted a shot into the top corner to put Chelsea ahead.

But Chelsea failed to defend a long throw for the second time, allowing Justin Kluivert to score for Bournemouth.

After playing City, Chelsea will face their west London rivals Fulham before an FA Cup game away against Charlton Athletic.

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