Chelsea were knocked out of the League Cup in the last 16 after a 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday ended in a penalty shootout won by Liverpool. Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said the club's main focus is the Premier League.
Exit at Anfield
Alonso told Sky Sports after the match: "Every time a match reaches penalties, some people feel that going out of the competition is harsh. The match was very close from both teams. Penalties make all outcomes possible."
As reported by the BBC, he added: "The players put in a good enough performance to compete at Anfield. We conceded a penalty and the score became level. The match was very close for both teams."
Praise for Penders
Alonso said: "Mike (Penders) put in a strong performance. We did not give him many chances, but he was steady and strong in his display. That was very important for us in the first half."
Focus on the league
He went on: "This is football. It is part of our job. We were performing at a good level, and this is what it takes to reach these stadiums. The Premier League is our main focus."
Chelsea were due to open the ninth round of the Premier League away to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday. They were fifth in the table on 13 points, eight points behind leaders Manchester City.
Quick turnaround
Alonso concluded: "We do not have much time to recover because the match is on Saturday, and it starts early, so we need to change our mindset very quickly."
