Inside the Chelsea dressing room mood after Southampton defeat as pressure increases on Graham Potter

When the full-time whistle blew, Chelsea knew they were about to be heavily criticised after their 1-0 loss to Southampton in the Premier League. The boos were there at half-time at Stamford Bridge, and they were even louder at the end of the game.

A James Ward-Prowse free-kick which found its way over the wall and past Kepa Arrizabalaga was enough for the Saints, who remain bottom of the table and managerless, to claim a shock Premier League double over the Blues.

Performances for many months have produced glimpses, albeit inconsistent, of what Chelsea are capable of and what is potentially to come once everything starts clicking.

Graham Potter has been hindered by injuries throughout his opening months in charge, but following the signings in January and return of many players the pressure is starting to increase.

Following defeat to Southampton, Chelsea have won just two of their last 17 games in all competitions. They face Tottenham Hotspur away next, and the Blues haven’t won on the road in the league since October 2022 so form is very much against them.

Times are tough at Chelsea and although the board have reaffirmed their position of backing Potter through these tough times, including shortly after Saturday’s full-time whistle, the dressing room mood is what you’d expect it to be.

Ben Chilwell shared the mood inside the group after telling his teammates they haven’t been good enough.

He told BBC Match of the Day: “It’s not good enough. We need to win these games.

“It’s a pretty flat dressing room at the moment. The only people that can turn it around is ourselves.”

Teammate Kepa Arrizabalaga has urged everyone to stick together to overcome the tough times, adding: “Everything is going against us right now, we are in a bad moment and we have to stick together.

“We have a big squad, a lot of players and a lot of quality but the things they are not going well, but it is not because we changed six or five or one player, it is more general, we are not doing well, it is clear and we have to improve.

“It is time to stick together and time to work, work and work.”

Chelsea have a week to prepare for their next game against Spurs. There is no time to dwell, they have to pick themselves up. Potter’s side don’t just need a win, they need a goal. That’s a reflection of how tough things are for the side right now.