Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino emphasised the need for his team to  "grow up like a team" following their disappointing 1-0 home loss to Aston Villa on Sunday.

Pochettino's expensively assembled squad has struggled, failing to score in their last three matches. They currently occupy 14th place in the Premier League, with only one win in six games.

This marks their poorest start to a season since 1978.

"We need to grow up like a team, not only in an individual way," Pochettino said.

"In this type of game, we are competing and want to win and football is about winning. But also, players, when they are young, need to learn, and experience and make mistakes.

"That's why we feel disappointed, as there are too many situations like this."

Pochettino said Chelsea's owners, who have spent around £1 billion ($1.22 billion) on new players since acquiring the club last year, are "disappointed" with the results but added that "they need to support the plan."