What is happening to Higuain at Chelsea?

Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri has complained about the physical and mental strength of Gonzalo Higuain, urging him to improve after a poor display in Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Everton in the Premier League on Sunday.

Second half goals from Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson condemned Chelsea to a costly 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park which saw their top four hopes suffer another significant setback.

Sarri’s side had dominated the opening period but the Italian was left frustrated by poor finishing and some excellent goalkeeping from Jordan Pickford.

Higuain has scored in just two of his 10 appearances since his January loan move from AC Milan but was chosen to start on Sunday despite Olivier Giroud’s Europa League hat-trick in midweek.

Asked if his former Napoli charge was struggling, Sarri said: ‘In this moment, yes of course. Today he had an opportunity.

‘Too few for him I think. He can do more. He had problems at the beginning of the week so today it was normal he could only play for 65 minutes. He has to improve physically and mentally.’

On Chelsea’s top four hopes, he added: ‘If you are speaking about the second half you are right, the first half we can do anything.

‘If we play eight matches like the first half then we can do everything. I am worried about the mentality but we played the best 45 minutes of the season without conceding a shot. If we play the second half then we are in trouble. Today was important for us, so now we have less opportunities. We have to fight.

‘It is not impossible. Why impossible? It is not impossible in eight matches. It is if we cannot improve and avoid a second half like today. We need to play like the first half for eight matches.’

Meanwhile, Graeme Souness has declared that Chelsea’s trophy-winning years could be over. Speaking on Sky Sports, former Liverpool star Souness said: “It’s difficult times ahead for Chelsea

“I think there’s a big sea change in how they see things going forward. I don’t think they will be winning trophies in the immediate future.”

Real Madrid continue to be linked with a summer move for Blues talisman Hazard, whose Chelsea contract expires next year.

Souness said: “If you are Hazard, you are one of the best players in the world, and you are thinking ‘I’m now arguably at the peak of my career and I want to be winning the big trophies’.

“Will that happen at Chelsea? I don’t think so. They look like they will struggle to get into the top four