Graham
Potter insists he is "not the problem" despite Chelsea's season sinking to a
new and alarming low as they were beaten 1-0 at Stamford Bridge by the
Premier League's bottom side Southampton.
A converted free-kick from James Ward-Prowse on the stroke of half-time put
the Saints' captain one goal behind David Beckham in the competition's
all-time standings, and sent Graham Potter's team to a fourth consecutive
winless match in the league.
With five of the club's eight January signings in the starting XI, Potter
saw his team labour to find any invention against a Saints side set up by
interim boss Ruben Selles to frustrate the hosts' expensively-assembled
attacking cavalry. Victory in their first match since the sacking of Nathan
Jones was everything they deserved.
"After a 1-0 defeat at home, any criticism you get is understandable," said
Potter. "We've had a tough period and lots of challenges in terms of
integrating young players in the Premier League.
"When you don't get results, it can be tough. That's how it is. Some people
will think I'm the problem. I don't think they're right but that doesn't
mean they can't articulate their views.
"We took a step back in terms of our performance in the first half. The
response in the second half was good but not good enough."
Chelsea have scored just once at home in 2023, and the lack of a recognised
striker was made painfully apparent yet again.
When asked if he was still the man for the job, and asked to explain the
delay to speak to the media, Potter said: "There's no conspiracy. Sorry, I
can't give you that.
"I always come in and speak to you guys and understand the questions. When
we've lost 1-0 at home to Southampton, it isn't good enough because of the
results we've had recently."
There was yet more worry for Chelsea when Azpilicueta was carried from the
field on a stretcher with an oxygen mask after being struck in the head by
the boot of Sekou Mara as he attempted to clear.
On Azpilicueta's condition, Potter added: "He's in hospital so he's in the
best place. He's conscious and speaking to his wife so that's good. We'll
keep monitoring him. We have to take all the precautions now as it was
worrying. It was a horrible incident."
Merson: I don't see things changing
Sky Sports' Paul Merson:
"First half, Southampton were outstanding. They were closing Chelsea down,
the better team in the game, lot more energy, knew what they were doing,
scored a very good goal. Second half (Raheem) Sterling came on - different
game. He was willing to make runs and he had two good chances both off the
line.
"But Southampton worked so hard. When Perraud got one off the line it was
like he'd scored a goal. They're cuddling each other. There seemed to be a
togetherness. They were all cuddling the manager at the end. They deserved
it.
"One is a team. The other is an absolute team of individuals. I've never
seen anything like it. The players they've brought in - take away (Enzo)
Fernandez because he's a top holding midfield player - are all individual
footballers.
"They all get on the ball and want to beat five or six players and there's
no passage of play. It was only when Havertz and Sterling came on that there
was a little bit of movement. (Mason) Mount gets eaten up because he passes
the ball and the others are all dribbling it, so there's no phases in the
game. I was very disappointed. It was poor.
"I don't see this stopping. They've bought a lorry load of individuals I'm
afraid. It's all dribblers.
"It's only when Havertz comes on a starts playing with Felix and Sterling
there are passages of play. I think this is a massive, massive, massive
interview now coming up for Graham Potter.
"Chelsea fans will be absolutely fuming. They won't stand for this, oh
Southampton have got a new manager so that helped them… they're not worried
about that. If you don't beat Southampton at home, their goalkeeper has to
be the best player on the pitch. He wasn't."
Selles: I already feel I'm the manager
Southampton took the lead in a familiar fashion. Ward-Prowse's free-kick,
the 17th he has now scored in the Premier League, could not have been more
finely placed, arcing over Chelsea's wall and dropping crisply into the
bottom corner beyond Arrizabalaga's despairing dive. Stamford Bridge, quiet
until now, made its displeasure known.
Inspiration for Chelsea would not strike and Southampton held on for a
deserved win.
"It was a fantastic performance from the team," Selles said.
"We moved liked a unit. We had a solid plan, so I'm happy we gave ourselves
the chance to win the game and to perform.
"We knew we would have a few moments in the game. It has been a very
difficult year for us. You could see the reaction from the players after the
blocks, so I'm very happy for them.
"I identified with the principles that were there before. It's not about the
manager so we used a lot of what was there. The players then put it together
with the details we gave them.
"First of all, I am a manager [when asked if he is ready to step up and
become manager]. But the second thing, it is not for me [to decide]. We
showed what we can do after a fantastic result. I don't think too much about
it [the relegation picture]. It's about our performance and how good we can
be. Now, we're focused on Leeds. All I know is that if a team beats us, they
will have to be very good as we will make it very hard.
"We're a team that shows character and spirit. It was more about the result
today as we showed a performance and a standard that we must now continue.
In order to become a winner in life, first of all you need to lose and to
learn from your losses. It is a process. We don't know what will come next
but we will now do all our best to win next week.
"The boys just threw me in! The game is about the players. I didn't want to
lead them [the celebrations]. I just wanted to say thank you to the fans for
their support."
What's next?
Chelsea's next game is a huge one, with Graham Potter's side travelling to
London rivals Tottenham on Sunday February 26, live on Sky Sports; kick-off
1.30pm.
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