Chelsea’s players have apologised to their fans following their shock UEFA Cup first round exit at the hands of unfancied Norwegian side Viking Stavanger.
“I don’t know what to say, I really don’t,” Gianfranco Zola was quoted as saying on Chelsea’s official website.
“I feel sorry for all the fans who made the trip,” the Italian striker added.
Chelsea went down 4-2 to the Norwegians and 5-4 on aggregate.
Striker Jesper Gronkjaer was another strugglingg to explain Chelsea’s exit.
“We’re all deeply disappointed,’ said Gronkjaer. ‘I feel really sorry for the fans who travelled so far and then we had such a performance.”
“We should have scored more goals, I should have scored,’ added the Dane. ‘We created so many chances but we’ve scored only two.”
Coach Claudio Ranieri was equally unhapppy wiith his side’s performance.
“I am not happy because we conceded four goals and that is strange for Chelsea,” he said.
“We dominated but made a lot of mistakes and gave them four goals as presents. “I am very disappointed and as manager I take a lot of the responsibility.”
