‘No excuses’ - Chelsea veteran Thiago Silva issues rallying cry after dire run of results sees Blues with worst points-per-game ratio in the Premier League

Despite spending more than £750 million ($944m) in the two previous transfer windows, Chelsea have struggled to turn around their fortunes. Their defeat to Everton at Goodison Park last weekend condemned them to the 12th spot in the league standings with just one win in the last five league outings.

Silva, who became theoldest player to ever featurefor the Blues at 39 years and 64 days when he was named in the starting XI against Newcastle United last month, has urged his team-mates to pull up their socks and put their best foot forward in the next games.

Silva put out a message on X, which read: "We are aware that the recent results have not been good, and we are the first ones disappointed by it. No excuses, just need to keep working to see the Chelsea we all want again. It's time to be united and overcome this situation together. See you on Saturday! 💙 @ChelseaFC"

As 2023 nears its end, Chelsea have been statistically labelled as the worst team in the English top-flight with the lowest points-per-game ratio among clubs that spent the entire year in the Premier League. They have secured only 39 points from an equal number of games, sharing the same tally with Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, with the latter two clubs having played one game less in 2023.

According to The Telegraph, insiders at the club have described 2023, the first full year under their Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership regime, as a "disaster" from a sporting perspective, as despite breaking the British transfer record on a couple of occasions the club is yet to yield the benefits.

Although it is believed that head coach Mauricio Pochettino still has the full backing of the Chelsea board, things might turn sour if they fail to show improvements in the remaining matches of 2023. It is a busy festive period for the London club, who will play five times in the next 15 days, starting with a fixture against Sheffield United on Saturday at home.