Poyet urges Chelsea to find aggressive edge

Chelsea legend Gus Poyet has warned that Xabi Alonso's side need to develop an aggressive streak after their defeat at Sunderland. Poyet, who played for Chelsea and managed Sunderland, felt the hosts brought an old-fashioned mentality to the game while Chelsea simply tried to play.

Poyet pointed to Chelsea's win at Everton last month, a performance Alonso described as 'solid' and 'serious', as the blueprint they should have followed. He believes that before travelling to the Stadium of Light, Chelsea should have watched videos of that victory.

Morgan Rogers showed some of the required fight during the loss, insisting his collision with Sunderland's Trai Hume was an accident. The summer signing from Aston Villa has contested more duels than any other Chelsea player this season and is Xabi Alonso's most-fouled footballer.

Poyet is concerned about the upcoming visit of Leeds United after the international break, with Daniel Farke's side having won more duels and aerial duels than any other Premier League team this season. He said Leeds are very solid and aggressive, and mentally a little ahead of Chelsea right now.