Badiashile, Chilwell, Sterling, Aubameyang: Potter confirms Chelsea team news to face Southampton

Graham Potter has confirmed the Chelsea team news to face Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

It’s been a frustrating run for Chelsea in the league this season, and Potter hasn’t had the fortune of a successful run of wins since his appointment last September.

Chelsea have been inconsistent across games, playing well in parts but, ultimately, it hasn’t been good enough for the majority to claim all three points in matches.

They have only won two of their last 13 matches in the Premier League, seeing them slip to 10th place and ten points off of the top places.

Potter and Co suffered a 1-0 defeat against Borussia Dortmund in midweek in the Champions League, ending their run of four games unbeaten.

Wesley Fofana, Denis Zakaria and Mateo Kovacic all travelled for the Dortmund loss, albeit none featured at the Signal Iduna Park, while Raheem Sterling missed out due to injury.

Sterling is likely to be back in contention, with Ben Chilwell starting in midweek and playing around 70 minutes in Germany.

“It’s positive,” said Potter on Friday ahead of the Southampton clash on Chilwell and Sterling.

“We are going to train later. Providing they come through that okay, good chance they’ll be in squad.”

Edouard Mendy, N’Golo Kante, Christian Pulisic and Armando Broja remain sidelined. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was excluded from Chelsea’s 25-man Champions League squad, will be hoping to be involved, while Benoit Badiashile is likely to return to the side after being ineligible too on Wednesday night.

“We have David Fofana as well, young player with potential,” responded Potter when asked about Aubameyang’s chances of getting into the Chelsea side between now and the end of the season.

“There is also other forwards. Pierre is in our squad, remains an important player. Nothing is set in stone. His attitude has been really, really good.”

Mount contract talks, needing to improve, Marc Cucurella boo latest: What Graham Potter said ahead of Chelsea vs Southampton

Southampton are without a manager after dismissing Jones due to their dismal form, and Potter believes form now goes out of the window ahead of Saturday’s clash.

He told reporters: “What’s happened before is no reference, that’s the challenge. We have to focus on ourselves, then ready for the challenge because there is a big challenge coming our way.”