Direct and to-the-point, that's how to describe Ricardo Carvalho's reaction to Chelsea's mistakes following our clash with Manchester United yesterday.

Speaking exclusively to Chelsea TV, the Portuguese centre-back went straight for the jugular of the team's problems following the disappointing 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford.

'We are conceding too many goals from set pieces. We have to mark our men and this time we didn't mark our men, and goal after goal it is getting worse for us,' explained Carvalho.

'Every game we find another player who was supposed to mark his man and doesn't.

'So we have to work for this, think about it and stick together for the next games.

'We have to be together and play as a team, now we have to look at ourselves and we have to improve.'

However, despite the Blues' recent failures concerning set pieces, Carvalho, a veteran from our two recent championship successes, knows more than anyone that Chelsea have both the stamina and determination to overcome our problems.

'Our mistake was the corner and we conceded a goal in the last minute of the first half, after that it was difficult to react,' said Carvalho.

'We tried but the second goal killed us.

'We have to forget a little bit and come together and try to treat the problem, because we can do much better.

'It is our responsibility as well, we have to improve and be professional and mark our men and play better than we are playing.'

There are still limited seats available for our Barclays Premier League clash with Stoke City this weekend, For more information please call 0871 984 1955 or email: hospitality@chelseafc.com.

Then, looking ahead, tickets for our home game against Middlesbrough on 28 January are now on general sale.