From utter dejection to jubilation, Chelsea engineered some turnaround in the space of just three days to become the first Premier team to beat Manchester City.

Antonio Rudiger was one of the many Chelsea players looking inconsolable when leaving Wolves last Wednesday night, following a shock 2-1 defeat. It was the worst kind of preparation for the visit of the seemingly invincible City outfit.

So, how did they do it? The Germany centre-half reveals that the first seeds were sown immediately after the loss at Molineux, as coach Maurizio Sarri addressed his players.

“After the Wolves game, he (Sarri) was terrifying,” said Rudiger. “He was going crazy. But that was okay because we shouldn’t have lost this match.”

While that outburst left everyone in no doubt that things had to improve, the really positive work took place on the training ground over the next 48 hours.

They worked on the false nine formation, with Eden Hazard leading the line, which proved a key tactic that took City by surprise.

But perhaps the biggest issue that needed to be resolved was mental, as Chelsea had gone from being unbeaten for over three months to ­losing twice in three matches.

“The day after [the telling-off], [Sarri] was very calm and clear-minded,” added Rudiger. “He spoke with us and made it clear that we have to believe in ourselves. He wanted us to go into the City game looking for the win.”

This is an early test of Sarri’s management that he had to pass. The Italian would have been under some scrutiny if Chelsea had suffered another loss in such a short period.

The former Napoli coach had suggested on more than one occasion over the last few months that his players had some sort of mental problem.

Hazard downplayed that following the defeat at Tottenham last month, but Rudiger admits there was a difference consensus of opinion when the players got together to discuss what was going wrong.

“We spoke together,” he said. “We all knew what was going on, we didn’t have to lie to ourselves: the mentality was the problem.

“One of the things that made us strong in difficult moments last season was that we knew how to suffer. This season, because things were going so good, we were thinking, ‘We don’t need to suffer’.

“Two teams, Tottenham and Wolves, proved us wrong. That’s why, against Manchester City, everyone saw a team that was ready to fight. We wanted to take the supporters with us and we did that.

“By ‘suffering’, what I mean is when we are having a tough time, we need to man up, keep our chins up and work.

“We were playing beautiful football at the start of the season, but that doesn’t mean you forget the ugly side of it: winning tackles, tracking back, doing everything defensively.

“Against Manchester City we were very clinical, which was also important. That has been missing over the last month, but against City we did something out of nothing.”

Sarri’s decision to play Hazard up front meant that his two recognised strikers were snubbed.

Olivier Giroud can at least console himself with being named on the bench, while Chelsea’s most expensive striker — Alvaro Morata — did not even make the squad.

Given Hazard had made it clear he was not happy playing as a false nine the last time he played against City — under previous coach Antonio Conte last March — it was some gamble by Sarri.

But Hazard set up both goals, firstly with a neat pass to N’Golo Kante before half-time and the second to David Luiz from a corner.

“The coach has given everyone the chance this season to prove themselves,” Rudiger said. “Everyone has

to accept this decision and perhaps it was a good [choice].

Five players who Chelsea could replace Eden Hazard with this summer 6 show all Five players who Chelsea could replace Eden Hazard with this summer 1/6 Standard Sport runs you through five potential replacements for Eden Hazard… Getty Images 2/6 Thorgan Hazard Borussia Monchengladbach



Why not keep it in the family, eh? 25-year-old Thorgan may not have quite the mercurial talent of his older brother, but he would be a fine alternative should Chelsea be pushed for a replacement. AFP/Getty Images 3/6 Christian Pulisic Perhaps the US international was signed with this in mind?



Chelsea secured Pulisic’s services with a £57.5m move, but he has been loaned back to Borussia Dortmund for the rest of the season. He will join up with his Chelsea team-mates in the summer. Bongarts/Getty Images 4/6 Hirving Lozano PSV



The Mexican, nicknamed ‘Chucky’, is comfortable on either wing and is currently enjoying a fine season in Chelsea’s favourite breeding ground, the Eredivisie. REUTERS 5/6 Lorenzo Insigne Napoli



A natural choice with nearly 140 games played under the tutelage of Sarri, the Napoli forward appears and ideal fit to replace Hazard at Stamford Bridge. AFP/Getty Images 6/6 Leon Bailey Bayer Leverkusen



The Blues kept a keen eye on the winger over the summer while the future of Willian was up in the air following a fallout with Antonio Conte, but it may be the case that they turn to the Bayer Leverkusen star to replace an even bigger name. Bongarts/Getty Images 1/6 Standard Sport runs you through five potential replacements for Eden Hazard… Getty Images 2/6 Thorgan Hazard Borussia Monchengladbach



Why not keep it in the family, eh? 25-year-old Thorgan may not have quite the mercurial talent of his older brother, but he would be a fine alternative should Chelsea be pushed for a replacement. AFP/Getty Images 3/6 Christian Pulisic Perhaps the US international was signed with this in mind?



Chelsea secured Pulisic’s services with a £57.5m move, but he has been loaned back to Borussia Dortmund for the rest of the season. He will join up with his Chelsea team-mates in the summer. Bongarts/Getty Images 4/6 Hirving Lozano PSV



The Mexican, nicknamed ‘Chucky’, is comfortable on either wing and is currently enjoying a fine season in Chelsea’s favourite breeding ground, the Eredivisie. REUTERS 5/6 Lorenzo Insigne Napoli



A natural choice with nearly 140 games played under the tutelage of Sarri, the Napoli forward appears and ideal fit to replace Hazard at Stamford Bridge. AFP/Getty Images 6/6 Leon Bailey Bayer Leverkusen



The Blues kept a keen eye on the winger over the summer while the future of Willian was up in the air following a fallout with Antonio Conte, but it may be the case that they turn to the Bayer Leverkusen star to replace an even bigger name. Bongarts/Getty Images

“It wasn’t like last season, when we tried to pump long balls to Eden. No, we tried to keep it on the ground.

“But when the ball did go up in the air, Eden showed that he can keep the ball. That was very, very important for us to get away from [City’s] press — it meant we had some space to compete there. Of course, Eden on the ball is fantastic and he showed that against City.”

Rudiger believes it is vital Chelsea now build on this triumph and cement their place in the top four.

Sarri’s side sit above fifth-placed Arsenal — who they face on January 19 — on goal difference. Before that ­fixture, Chelsea have six matches against teams ranked ninth in the table and lower.

“We have to stay switched on in our heads,” Rudiger concluded. “People will have seen us beat Manchester City and that is the standard we have set ourselves now.

“We always have to try to bring this kind of performance, on the mental side and with the fighting spirit.

“Do I think the race for the top four could be the closest yet? Yes.

“Compared to last season, this is really tough. We are not allowed to make any mistakes because the other clubs will take advantage of them.”