Former England defender Danny Mills thinks that Chelsea let too many key players leave over the summer and are paying the price after the Blues continued their lacklustre form by managing to edge out Watford 4-2. 

The Blues were second best for parts of the contest at Stamford Bridge as Watford recovered from going behind to pull 2-1 ahead and give the champions a shock.




Goals from Chelsea in the 87th and 95th minutes handed them all three points, but defensive worries yet again surfaced for a side that have now conceded seven goals in their last three matches.

For Mills, Chelsea let a number of key players go in the summer, with the former full-back picking out the experienced John Terry, midfielder Nemanja Matic and young defender Kurt Zouma.
 


Mills said on the BBC's Final Score programme: "Look at the players that they've lost.

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"John Terry, around the training ground and in the dressing room, that sort of influence.

"They've let Nemanja Matic go to one of their closest rivals, Manchester United.

"They've let Zouma go as well.

"David Luiz has gone back to his old ways. He's been a little bit rash at times. He is maybe trying a little too hard.

"Last season he hardly put a foot wrong and all those inconsistencies we saw from him before defensively had gone out of the window."

However, Mills thinks the Blues are still managing to collect results and as such, could move back up the Premier League standings if they can rediscover their form.

"Chelsea at the moment are struggling for form a little bit, but they are getting away with it and they are hanging in there.

"If they suddenly start to play well they could creep back up the table."

Blues boss Antonio Conte may choose to take a look at several of his fringe players next week when Chelsea host Everton in the EFL Cup.