Monday 25 February 2019 23:31, UK
David Luiz has attributed Chelsea's inconsistency under Maurizio Sarri to the difficulty of not challenging for the Premier League title.
Chelsea won the 2016-17 Premier League title in Antonio Conte's first season but finished fifth last term - 30 points adrift of Manchester City.
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The Blues are currently sixth ahead of the midweek Premier League fixtures, which see them face third-placed Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night in a match crucial to their bid to return to the Champions League.
Ahead of the clash, David Luiz said, "Chelsea is a team which should be fighting for the Premier League and now we are seeing it is a bit far, so it is not the same mentality. It is up to us to pass this step."
Chelsea go into the encounter on the back of a weekend Carabao Cup final defeat on penalties to Manchester City with Maurizio Sarri's future at the club coming into question ahead of Wembley showpiece.
However, the performance, stifling City and creating chances to win the match in normal time will likely have bought Sarri some time, even if the positives were then overshadowed by goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga's refusal to be substituted.
Avoid embarrassment against Tottenham and it appears likely Sarri will limp on, possibly to the end of the season, with favourable March fixtures.
Luiz's own future also remains uncertain, given he is 32 in April and out of contract at the end of the season.
The Brazil defender fell out of favour under Conte, partly due to a knee injury, but has been integral for Sarri.
Sarri has already urged the club to bend their usual policy of offering only 12-month extensions to those over 30 to retain Luiz, who says he is thriving.
"It's one of the best seasons I've had individually, but, for me, this doesn't count because I want my team to win," Luiz said.
"It's better that my team wins 5-4 and it's better that everyone talks bad about me but my team is winning than I'm doing a great job and we're still not winning."
