The 31-year-old defender is one of 12 of the current Blues squad who have been called up by their respective nations for the Qatar tournament. There would be more were it not for injuries, which Koulibaly believes is a significant factor in our recent run of poor results, but he highlights factors within the players’ control - work levels and mindset – as the primary focus for improving form for the games ahead in the distance.

‘We have to be sad after losing in Newcastle,’ he begins. ‘We wanted to get the three points but it was a tough game. Newcastle played well, they made a lot of intensity and it was difficult for us with all the injuries we have and all the pressure they put on us.

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‘It was a bit tough and we are sad that we lost this game because we wanted more and we didn’t get it. We have to work hard because we are far from first place in the Premier League.
‘We have a lot of very important players who are injured,’ added the Senegal international captain, ‘and the players who played are not in a good mood. We have to keep on working, keep on believing because we can reach our objective.

‘We have a break, and we can think about our team, think about Chelsea the club, because there is a lot to do to come back in a good shape.’

Koulibaly uses the term reset to describe the approach when the Premier League resumes in the last week of December.

‘We need to know that we are not in a good place,’ he says. ‘We need to keep on working, keep on believing. For the supporters it is hard to lose again because it is three games in a row that we lose and it is difficult for us and it is difficult for them.

‘So we have to get back after the World Cup with another mentality, and a mentality to win the games and to get points.’