Chelsea cannot consider themselves Premier League title contenders after their poor end to December, says Levi Colwill.
Enzo Maresca's side looked set to challenge Liverpool for the top-flight title before a three-match winless run to end 2024 dented those hopes somewhat.
Chelsea were held to a goalless draw by Everton before losing to Fulham on Boxing Day and losing 2-0 at Ipswich Town in Monday's game at Portman Road.
Colwill says these results do not represent a title-challenging team, echoing previous suggestions from Maresca that Chelsea are out of contention for the Premier League crown.
“If you are in the title race, you don't lose points in December like we did in the last three games,” the England defender told Sky Sports.
“That's the experience. Hopefully we'll be there maybe next season, maybe the season after, but I don't think we'll be running this season.”
Chelsea's last two defeats were as many as they had suffered in their previous 23 Premier League games combined (W15 D6).
They last suffered more losses in a row between April and May 2023 during Frank Lampard's second spell in charge (four), and will be keen to make up for it when they visit Crystal Palace on Saturday.
2025 starts here. pic.twitter.com/uPVq1UNHhR
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 1, 2025
However, Maresca's team still have a firm hold on fourth place, three points ahead of fifth-placed Newcastle United and just two points behind third-placed Nottingham Forest.
Colwill insists Chelsea are comfortable with their current development as a team, rather than focusing on the outside noise around a potential title challenge.
“We all know where we are as a team,” he continued. “Of course there is a lot of talk in the outside world, but we do not agree with that.
“The confidence hasn't changed, the morale hasn't changed, we're just taking it one game at a time.
“That's all going on, in the locker room we have those conversations and we know where we are.”
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