Graham Potter: Southampton defeat a step backwards for Chelsea after Dortmund loss

Graham Potter has admitted that Chelsea’s loss to Southampton is a step back as he remains under pressure at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues were disappointing yet again as James Ward-Prowse netted the only goal of the game, smashing a stunning free-kick into the top corner.

Kepa Arrizabalaga could do nothing to prevent the opener, while Chelsea were unlucky not to score at the other end.

Raheem Sterling saw a shot cleared off the line before his follow-up was deflected over the bar as the Blues fell to defeat.

Potter’s side were booed off the pitch by the Stamford Bridge crowd as patience is running thin for the 10th placed side in the Premier League.

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Chelsea are also on the verge of a Champions League exit after a 1-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their last-16 clash, with Potter knowing that he must turn things round.

The head coach gave his verdict after the match, as quoted by Adam Newson.

“My job is to help the team, keep working through a team period, we’ve had to make some changes today and the truth is we took a step back in our performance in the first half,” he said. “The response in the second half was good, but it wasn’t good enough.”

Potter continued to discuss his job as he remains under pressure to turn things around or lose his job.

He continued: “There is no conspiracy, I can’t give you that. There is a lot of media and I believe my colleague has done the media before me.

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“I always come in and speak to you guys, understand the questions, and when we’ve lost 1-0 at home to Southampton, with the greatest respect to the, it is good enough because of the results we’ve had recently.

“The first half is as much my responsibility as anybody’s because the performance wasn’t good. I thought the second-half performance was better and we deserved to score.

“If we do that, the game changes around. But 1-0 isn’t good and we’re disappointed with that.”

Chelsea face Tottenham Hotspur next in the Premier League as Potter looks to turn things around at Stamford Bridge.