I am not Chelsea’s problem; Graham Potter insists after Southampton loss and Todd Boehly agrees
I am not Chelsea’s problem; Graham Potter insists after Southampton loss and Todd Boehly agrees.
Since Todd Boehly at this point still does not see any reason to sack Potter, it is believed that he also shares the coaches’ idea that he is not the problem of Chelsea.
‘After a 1-0 defeat at home, any criticism you get is understandable,’ said Potter.
‘We’ve had a tough period, we’ve had lots of challenges, integrating young players into the Premier League. Whilst results don’t go your way, it can be tough.
‘I’m sure there will be people out there who will think I’m the problem. I don’t think they’re right. I’m not arrogant enough to say their opinion isn’t worth articulating. My job is to help the team keeping working through a tough period.
‘The truth is we took a step back in our performance in the first half. The response in the second half was good, but not good enough.
‘When we’ve lost 1-0 at home to Southampton, with the greatest respect to them, it isn’t good enough. The first half was as much my responsibility as anybody’s. I thought the performance wasn’t good.
‘I thought the second-half performance was better and that we deserved to score. If we score, the game changes around. But 1-0 isn’t good and we’re disappointed with that.’
Chelsea’s day was compounded by a serious injury to captain Cesar Azpilicueta in the second half, with the defender leaving the pitch on a stretcher with an oxygen mask after being kicked in the head by Sekou Mara.
‘He’s in hospital,’ said Potter. ‘He’s conscious, he was speaking to his wife. We are obviously really concerned. He’s in the best place and we’ll keep monitoring him.
‘I think he was unconscious. We have to take all the precautions we need to take now. It was worrying. It was a horrible incident.’
‘It’s been a very difficult year for us,’ said Selles. ‘I didn’t have time to invent a new system. I identified with the principles that were there before. I don’t need to tell (the players).
‘I don’t think too much about (other team’s results). I think about us and how good we can be. If anybody wants to beat this team, they have to be at their best.’
