Chelsea star Carney Chukwuemeka has addressed supporters off the back of their win in the FA Cup last weekend against Leicester City.
He said in an interview on the club’s website that the players really need the support of the fanbase in the coming weeks.
Stamford Bridge was sent into raptures in the last few minutes of the quarter-final against the Championship leaders when Chukwuemeka gave them the lead.
Chukwuemeka makes the difference for Chelsea
The goal, and the one that quickly followed from Noni Madueke, put to bed any doubt in what had become a tough tie.
The Blues had been pegged back from their two goal first half lead, and the atmosphere in the ground turned toxic very quickly.
Chukwuemeka defends Sterling
A lot of the frustration was being aimed at Raheem Sterling, who was having an afternoon to forget at Stamford Bridge.
A missed penalty as well as a number of big chances going high and wide, the crowd were turning on one of their own players, and the manager who was refusing to take him off.
Chukwuemeka came out after the game and defended the experienced attacker, with a number of players taking to social media to do the same.
Now, the youngster has reinstated just how much they need the fans behind them in the run in to the end of the season.
He said: “I never lost faith and belief in myself. The West Ham goal gave me confidence and even when I got injured, I thought it was a bump in the road, a trial that I need to overcome and build a stronger mindset from.
“I know what I can do and, God willing, hopefully I can keep showing everyone what I can do.
“Stick with us through the highs and lows. We are on the rise but it isn’t going to be that easy. So keep supporting us through it all and give us that 12th man when we’re on the pitch.”
With him returning from injury slowly in recent weeks, it is likely that Chukwuemeka is now going to be pushing the manager for a start in the coming games.