Cesar Azpilicueta: EFL Cup exit 'hurt' Chelsea - but now we want FA Cup glory

Cesar Azpilicueta admits Chelsea need to restore their confidence by beating Newcastle in the FA Cup on Sunday after crashing out of the EFL Cup.

Chelsea were defeated 2-1 by Arsenal in the second leg of their semi-final, with the Gunners coming from behind to seal a Wembley final against Manchester City on February 25.

It means the Blues go into their FA Cup tie at Stamford Bridge with just one win from seven games.

Azpilicueta said: “After defeat you need to bounce back and show the answer from the team in the next game. We have to look forward. We must get a win for our confidence.

“We are disappointed and it hurts. We can do better. On Sunday we have another chance in the FA Cup to get closer to that trophy.”

Azpilicueta insists Chelsea’s biggest frustration is the lack of consistency: “In the past few games we have got a lot of draws apart from the win over Brighton last weekend.

“This was a big chance to get to Wembley after the disappointment against Arsenal in the FA Cup and Community Shield.

“We were looking forward to going back but we couldn’t make it. We have to keep working hard to do it [in the FA Cup].”

Chelsea did not create many chances after Eden Hazard put them into an early lead and the performance has put even more pressure on the club to finalise a deal for Edin Dzeko.

Roma sporting director Monchi said yesterday they have yet to agree a fee for the striker, who scored against Sampdoria last night.

Ross Barkley made his Chelsea debut after coming on in the 30th minute for Willian, who suffered a minor hamstring strain.

It was the England international’s first competitive game since last May, having suffered a serious hamstring injury himself.

Barkley struggled to make an impact but Azpilicueta insisted people should be patient with the 24-year-old. He said: “Ross has a great attitude and is working hard.

“He is coming back from a long injury and he will be important for the team.

"He is coming back from a long injury, has only played one game with the Under-23s and came on against Arsenal without really warming up. He is on the right path and I'm sure he will be very important for the team.

"Is patience required? Yes. He is coming from an injury which kept him out for seven months (started full training at Everton in December).

"Ross is at a new club, a new team. But what I see from him in training, he is working very hard to get into the team. We have to give him time because I'm sure he will be very important.

"We know what he is like as a player. Over the next six-eight weeks we are playing in the next round of the FA Cup, the Champions League and the Premier League, where we have to keep pushing.

"We have a lot of important games coming up and everybody has to be at 120 per cent because we need everyone."