Maurizio Sarri has revealed he always knew Chelsea would slip away after their thunderous start in the Premier League and believes it will be easier to work in his second season.
The Blues starting superbly under the Italian going unbeaten in 18 competitive matches before finally losing to Tottenham Hotspur in November, where Mauricio Pochettino's side discovered the key to stopping the juggernaut that was Sarri-ball.
Since then it has seemingly become easier - they've lost another six games in the league, including a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City, while they've also lost the Carabao Cup final and seen themselves knocked out of the FA Cup.
Sarri transcript: Every word from Chelsea boss on starting Hudson-Odoi, fan criticism & more
It's only in Europe where they remain unbeaten - they've won nine of the ten games in the Europa League and face Slavia Prague in the quarter-finals next week.
But first Sarri and Chelsea must concentrate on the Premier League and try to turn the tide of fan opinion back in favour of the Italian who is coming under increasing pressure from some of the fans at Stamford Bridge.
And ahead of Wednesday night's game with Brighton and Hove Albion, Sarri has revealed he always expected his side to fall away but believes the fans felt it was normal to continue winning so easily, although in his view that couldn't be further from the truth.
He said: "Yes, as I said before, probably we started too well. Probably our fans thought that it would be an easy season for us. In the Premier League, I think that it's not easy.
"Every match is very difficult, every team is really very strong. It's really very difficult to be in the top four in this championship.
"Yes, yes. Yes, as I said in every press conference [I expected the team to fall away]. We had to face difficulties. Because we have.
"We started very well, a bit lucky in some matches with a very great level of enthusiasm. But I knew very well that it wasn't easy and, sooner or later, we'd have to face big difficulties.
"Probably, in the last seasons, they were used to winning. So probably they thought that it was normal to continue to win. But it's not normal.
"I think that the other teams, in the last seasons, have improved a lot from all points of view. So now, the Premier League is really, really very difficult, also for a big club like Chelsea.
"It's not easy for them [the players], I think. They are improving. My feeling is they are improving in being a group. They are improving in character. Now we need to improve in playing our football, in performances. Then the results will be a consequence.
"I need to work, I think and in the first season, it was impossible to work."
Maurizio Sarri gives Chelsea fans encouraging Callum Hudson-Odoi update ahead of Brighton tie
Keep up to date with the latest news, features and exclusives from football.london via the free football.london app for iPhone and Android .
Available to download from the App Store and Google Play .
