Wesley Fofana sends defiant 12-word message amid ‘tough period’ for Chelsea & Graham Potter

Wesley Fofana has sent a defiant message to Chelsea fans after the club fell to another defeat.

The pressure is continuing to increase on Chelsea and Graham Potter after they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Southampton, who are without a permanent manager and 20th in the Premier League, on Saturday afternoon at Stamford Bridge.

A foul by Cesar Azpilicueta on the edge of the box on the stroke of half-time saw James Ward-Prowse produce another trademark moment to score another set-piece goal, which ultimately proved enough for the visitors to claim all three points.

Potter made a whole host of selection decisions, including resting Reece James and Thiago Silva as he looked to manage their minutes carefully following Champions League action in midweek against Borussia Dortmund.

One player who has been making their way back is Wesley Fofana. He has been sidelined with a long-term knee injury but in recent weeks returned to training and travelled with the team to Germany.

On Saturday, he was included in the matchday squad again and was brought on at half-time to make his first appearance since October.

It was the 22-year-old’s fifth game for Chelsea since signing from Leicester City last summer. He has returned to the side in a tough period for the Blues, but insists they will succeed at the end.

He wrote on Instagram: “Thanks for your constant support. We must stick together. We will succeed.”

Chelsea were met with loud boos at full-time following the loss, with fans make their frustrations known.

Potter accepts the disappointment and knows it’s not been good enough but insists he isn’t the problem and they are doing everything they can to work through the tough period.

“After a 1-0 defeat at home, any criticism you get is understandable,” he said. “I think we’ve had a tough period and I think we’ve had lots of challenges in terms of integrating young players into the Premier League. While results don’t go your way it can be tough, that is how it is.

“I’m sure there will be people out there that think I’m the problem, absolutely. I don’t think they’re right but I’m not arrogant enough to say their opinion isn’t worth articulating. 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. The response in the second half was good, but it wasn’t good enough.”

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