Spaniard said the Blues switched off after half-time.
‘Interim’ Chelsea head coach Rafa Benitez was critical of his side’s defending following their 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
The west London club led their visitors twice, only to be pegged back on each occasion, first through an Emmanuel Adebayor wonder strike from distance and then late on thanks to substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson’s neat finish.
However, the Uefa Champions League holders remain three points clear of their London rivals in fifth in the race to finish this campaign in the top four of the Premier League, and with it gain entry into next season’s European Cup.
And with there now being only two top-flight fixtures left to play, the Blues can rap up their place in Europe’s premier club competition by claiming three points at struggling Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon in front of the Sky TV cameras.
However, even if Chelsea do slip up at Villa Park this weekend, then they still have the cushion of a final match at Stamford Bridge on May 19 to play against Everton if needed to confirm a top-four finish.
“Twice we had the advantage and we could have killed the game,” said Benitez in his post-match press conference. “We didn’t do it and then we gave the ball away. We had to control the second half much better.
“Their second goal was offside but still, we had to defend it better.”
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