Jadon Sancho says unity can help Chelsea reach their European goal

Chelsea goalscorer Jadon Sancho called for unity after Sunday’s draw with Ipswich pushed the team out of the Champions League places.

Enzo Maresca’s side have won only one of their last four in the Premier League and suffered their latest setback at the hands of the struggling Tractor Boys who raced into a 2-0 half-time lead at Stamford Bridge.

The hosts hit back when Marc Cucurella forced an own-goal before levelling late in the game via a superb curling strike from Sancho, his first goal since December 8, but despite creating chances to win it a third goal did not arrive.

“It’s very disappointing,” Sancho told Chelsea’s website. “We had so many chances to seal the game but unfortunately it was just one of those games where the keeper’s making spectacular saves. We had the most possession and a lot of chances to score.

“We knew going into the game that Ipswich are very good on the counter-attack and it’s unfortunate that we just let it slip and conceded two goals out of nothing really.”

With six games to go, Chelsea sit sixth in what looks a five-way battle for the Champions League with only three points separating third from seventh.

There is likely to be a fierce fight in the final weeks of the campaign as Nottingham Forest, Manchester City, Newcastle and Aston Villa all try to condemn the Blues to a third consecutive season out of Europe’s top competition.

With Liverpool and Arsenal having all but wrapped up their places it leaves the rest scrapping for the three spots that remain.

“We really want that Champions League spot,” said Sancho. “It’s not over, we’ve still got six games to go. From now on every game is going to have to be a final, so we’re going to need everyone at a hundred per cent.

“We have tough games ahead but if we stick together I’m sure we can get what we need from them.”

The result in west London, though admirable under the circumstances, did little for Ipswich’s vanishing ambition of staying in the league.

Wolves victory over Tottenham means the gap to safety is now 14 points and relegation could be confirmed as early as Sunday’s game against Arsenal at Portman Road.

Reasons for optimism for manager Kieran McKenna, who said last week he intends to stay with the club as the return to the Championship, came with well-worked goals scored by Julio Enciso and Ben Johnson, though their failure to hold the lead encapsulated their top-flight struggles.

Nevertheless, McKenna was upbeat.

“I think we can take great pride in (the result),” he said. “I think the background of our team, our group today and the journey that a lot of those players have been on is huge.

“So to come here and compete, I’m really proud of them on an individual level, but you also look at the spirit and then organisation and the commitment that the group showed today.”