More injury problems, fighting to win: What Graham Potter said ahead of Chelsea vs Leeds United

Graham Potter addressed the media ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League clash against Leeds United on Saturday afternoon at the Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are currently going through an extremely tough period following a run of three straight defeats in all competitions, which has seen Potter’s side fall to 10th place in the Premier League.

Back-to-back defeats in the league to Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur has seen pressure mount on Potter with Chelsea’s next two fixtures against Leeds and Borussia Dortmund dubbed as potential ‘make or break’ games in regards to the 47-year-old’s future at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea vs Leeds: Live stream, TV channel, kick-off time, team news and prediction

They will be desperate to end the losing run which has been met with huge criticism from the club’s supporters – frustration and anger which Potter understands and accepts.

Here’s what the Chelsea head coach had to say in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon.

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Team news

“Thiago will be around that time (six weeks), not sure exactly. Mendy is making progress. N’Golo had his first full session today, still needs time. Mason has had a problem with a lower abdomen area, but too soon tomorrow.

“Reece has a tightness in his hamstring. We are assessing him, but he’s doubtful for tomorrow. Azpi has made progress, but still not through protocols of a head injury like that.”

Results

“I know the situation we are in, improve the results we’ve had. They’ve not been good enough.”

Mason Mount’s future

“Mason, for us, has been great to work with. He’s suffering like the rest of us. Contract is between him and the club.

“I’m not thinking about the summer, I’m thinking about tomorrow’s match. Preparing and getting better results. That’s the focus.”

Positive of Chelsea missing a year of European football

“You can’t think at any point that it’s a positive to be out of Europe. That’s clear. We are a club with ambition and to compete at the top. At the moment, we are not and we have to address that.”

Preparing for Leeds

“We’ve been fighting this week to prepare well so we are in a position to give a performance our supporters are happy with.

“We’re coaches, it’s our jobs to work with the players. Spirit has been as good as it can be with the period of results. Boys have taken responsibility. We all admit we can do better, firstly me. We are all fighting, but we need to show it on the pitch.”

Acceptance of dismal form

“The results haven’t been good enough. We know that, we accept that, there’s no hiding from that.”

Fighting talk

“We’re fighting for improvement, fighting to do better. The spirit is there. Talking is one thing, but we have to do it on the pitch.”

Getting back to winning ways

“The most important thing is Chelsea can win tomorrow. It’s an easy thing to say. You have to fight for the results. When you’re in a tough moment, you have to stick together and work hard. We will give it our best and we’ll try to win.”