Ashley Cole has admitted that it is "crazy" to think about Chelsea battling for a place in the top four, rather than the Premier League title.
Cole was a guest on Sky Sports as the Blues took on Liverpool at Anfield and lost 2-0.
It was Liverpool who needed the points in their race for the title, moving ahead of Manchester City by two points, albeit having played a game more, while the defeat left the Blues looking over their shoulders at Manchester United and Arsenal.
The Derby defender cannot accept the position the Blues find themselves in.
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He said after the game: "It’s the best I’ve seen them play, collectively as a team they created chances, they kept the ball well. Jorginho in the first half played well, got around players, freed Willian in behind.
"A club like Chelsea it shouldn’t really matter how well you’re playing you’ve got to be winning games, and you can’t be losing big games like this. It’s definitely important for next season they have got to be in the top four. It’s crazy to be talking about them fighting for top four.
"Times like this will come, but it’s how you bounce back. Chelsea have bounced back, but not in the manner where you’re fighting for fourth. The fight is still not there for me."
And while Cole is concerned about the future of Eden Hazard, who is continually linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge to Real Madrid, he does not think the Belgian will leave.
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"I don’t want to think about it [Hazard leaving]," he said. "After today’s performance he was brilliant. The way he brings players into the game. The chances he had he was unlucky.
"I can’t see why he’d want to leave to be honest. He loves the club, the club loves him. Real Madrid the club he loves, the manager he loves, it’s going to be difficult to keep him but I think he will stay to be honest. I do. I just know how much he adores the club and I think he should stay."
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