Cesar Azpilicueta has confessed that even winning the FA Cup will not save Chelsea's season following his side's latest disappointing result.
The Blues remain stuck on three Premier League wins in 2018 after playing out a 1-1 draw with West Ham United on Sunday afternoon.
Chelsea are 10 points adrift of the top four and now left focusing on just the FA Cup, with a semi-final to come against Southampton later this month.
Versatile defender Azpilicueta, an ever-present in last season's title success, concedes that 2017-18 will go down as a major disappointment regardless of what happens over the next six weeks.
"To get a draw at home in another London derby is really frustrating for all of us and all of the fans," he told BBC Sport. "It's becoming harder and harder [to finish in the top four] every game it goes on.
"We are further away than ever. The FA Cup is a massive trophy but it's not enough for us. We will try to win it but the cup will not save our season."
Chelsea have two more league games to play before their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium on April 22.
Daniel Lewis
