Marc Cucurella criticises Chelsea’s game management after defeat to Sunderland

Marc Cucurella warned Chelsea need to learn quickly how to kill off teams if they are to avoid tumbling down the Premier League table.

The Blues have chucked away eight points from winning positions already this season and were stunned by a stoppage-time winner from Sunderland’s Chemsdine Talbi at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

They had led through Alejandro Garnacho’s fourth-minute strike – his first goal since joining in the summer – but the Black Cats never looked like being overwhelmed and equalised in the 22nd minute through Wilson Isidor.

A balanced, fiercely contested fight ensued with both sides playing to win, but it was Regis Le Bris’ visitors that struck a definitive late blow, Brian Brobbey setting up substitute Talbi to roll in the winner and ensure Sunderland finished the day second in the table.

Enzo Maresca’s side by contrast sit in mid-table after their four-game winning run in all competitions was ended.

“It’s a really tough one to take,” Cucurella told Chelsea’s website. “We need to improve with these matches. I think we need to learn to manage the game better.

“We scored early, dominated at that stage but then we let the opponents back into it. We need to learn to kill games off when we are on top.

“We need to learn to be better against teams that come with a gameplan such as Sunderland where they stay very narrow and compact.”

For the second time this season Chelsea were undone by a long throw-in as Nordi Mukiele’s launch into the six-yard box created havoc and Isidor poked home the equaliser.

“We know that a lot of teams are trying to use long throws more and we need to manage them better,” said Cucurella.

“We worked on them yesterday because we knew Sunderland will look to use long throws and be direct from set-pieces.

“I think maybe we relaxed a little bit and they punished us. It’s no excuse. We need to learn from this and make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Sunderland boss Le Bris has led his team to the best start from a newly promoted team for 17 years.

“The emotions in the club so far are excellent,” he said. “It’s impressive. We’ve found this togetherness not only across the squad but also across the club with the fans as well.

“When the energy is like that you can create many positives, like this win today.”