Graham Potter: Chelsea “suffering” but must stick together amid “frustrating” run | Football News

Graham Potter called on Chelsea to put together a united performance after defeat to local rivals Fulham put pressure on their position and left the Blues in their worst league position since 1996.

Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat at Craven Cottage, which included a red card on debut for Joao Felix and an injury to Denis Zakaria, means Potter’s side have taken just six points from their past nine Premier League games. They sit 10th in the table, 10 points behind fourth-placed Manchester United who have a game in hand.

“We’re suffering right now. We’re suffering, the fans are suffering. We’re feeling it,” Potter said. “It is important to stay together and try to get through this difficult period.”

Chelsea crashed out of the FA Cup third round on Sunday by beating Manchester City 4-0, which also ended their Carabao Cup hopes before Christmas. With a huge gap in the top four, it seems the Champions League is their only hope for success this season.

For Potter, Thursday was another frustrating afternoon, with Felix’s encouraging debut cut short by a sending off, the injury list extended to 10 players, and defensive errors costing him crucial points.

“It’s really frustrating, incredibly challenging,” Potter said of the situation. “I feel for the supporters.

“We are disappointed to lose tonight. I think the game was relatively balanced in the first half, we had some chances. .

“We are back in the game and the red card is where we are now, in terms of things that can happen. [do happen to us].

“Losing Joao three games is really disappointing. Joao is a young player, a top player, you can see his quality and there is no malice. [in the tackle] but the ref has a decision to make. He will learn from it.

“More than anything that’s great from the enemy, there’s more fundamental action that needs to be done better.”

Talk to sports, Potter said of Felix’s red card: “It was a forward tackle, no malice, but I understand why it’s red.

“He’s really good, you can see his quality in the game, so it’s doubly disappointing.”

With Felix suspended, where are Chelsea’s goals coming from now?

Sky Sports’ Peter Smith at Craven Cottage:

After just 15 minutes, Chelsea’s traveling supporters chanted Joao Felix’s name. He has tempted two Fulham players into a yellow card error, nutmegged Tim Ream to tee up Kai Havertz for a good chance and saw some good openings come his way.

This is the spark that Chelsea and Graham Potter are looking for in attack. Before Thursday, he had scored just three times in his last seven games. Felix appears to be the answer to her problems. The player to give creativity, work and real quality in the final third.

But before the hour mark – like so many things for Potter and Chelsea these days – things had gone wrong. Felix lunge at Kenny Tete is hardly the most violent challenge but with the studs up and connecting with the opponent’s shin, there will only be one result.

Felix looked set to grab the headlines with his first-half display – but it was an unsettling moment in a second that will go down as a memorable debut. He has now missed three of his last 20 Premier League matches on loan. It’s really worth it.

But it is also a question of how well Potter can attack again for the games against Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Fulham, which Felix will miss.

The options are limited. Havertz was once again wasted at Craven Cottage, losing his battle with Bernd Leno decisively. Raheem Sterling is still recovering from injury. David Datro Fofana just arrived from Molde. And as for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, he was never used on the bench with Chelsea because of the need for goals. It seemed like an understandable decision from Potter, who had endorsed the striker in previous Premier League games.

Chelsea are the lowest scorers in the top half, so how can they break out of this terrible run of form? These are the main questions that need to be answered before Sunday.

At the back: Chelsea collapse under little pressure

Sam Blitz Sky Sports:

The frustration for under-fire manager Potter was that Thursday night’s defeat at Fulham was all Chelsea’s doing.

The Blues started well at Craven Cottage with Felix looking to be the answer to Chelsea’s creativity problems by popping up smartly in midfield and carrying the ball well.

In the first 20 minutes, Chelsea had created eight good chances and limited Fulham to elimination. While the Blues are not in front, it looks like progress has been made in the week Potter has had an “honest chat” with his squad.

Then it all fell backwards. Trevoh Chalobah’s poor form from the back started a catalog of mistakes. The mistake resulted in Bobby Decordova-Reid hitting the bar but then the pressure was on. Minutes later, Lewis Hall was guilty of the same mistake and Willian put Fulham in front. All the early running was tough and after looking comfortable, Chelsea held on until half-time.

The same can be said for Felix’s red card. Chelsea have returned to the game after the break and are on top, looking to complete the comeback. Suddenly, one moment of madness caused the game to run away from Chelsea again.

Potter should be encouraged by the individual ability to prepare the team can do, only to see the frustration in the young, injury-ridden side collapsed as soon as the pressure has been cranked up.

With another London derby with Crystal Palace awaiting the Blues on Sunday, the Chelsea manager knows that a good start to calm nerves is needed, not only for the players but also for the fans.

But if he’s gone…