Revealed: Graham Potter’s dressing room reaction which surprised Chelsea players amid Thomas Tuchel comparison

The Chelsea players were left surprised after under-pressure head coach Graham Potter’s dressing room reaction following their 1-0 defeat to Southampton last month.

A James Ward-Prowse free-kick from the edge of the box on the stroke of half time which was too good for Kepa Arrizabalaga inflicted a second defeat in a row on Chelsea for the then managerless side who were at the bottom-of-the-table.

It was a performance to forget for Chelsea and they faced the criticism of their supporters at Stamford Bridge after getting booed off in the capital, which Potter accepted was natural and fair following the below-par display.

“After a 1-0 defeat at home, any criticism you get is understandable,” said the 47-year-old.

He added: “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.”

Ben Chilwell immediately outlined what the mood was inside the Chelsea dressing room, calling it “flat”.

Potter was late to his post-match press conference which raised questions over why. He shut any speculation down quickly, saying: “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. I always come in and speak to you guys.”

Chelsea went onto lose their next game away at Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 on Sunday, so there was no bounce back reaction from the side who were given their two scheduled days off on the Sunday and Monday ahead of the London derby.

Now it’s been revealed what the team talk was post-match against Southampton which left many surprised over how Potter handled the dressing room after the loss.

Journalist Adam Newson told the ‘View From The Bridge‘ Podcast: “I spoke to some people around the club after the Southampton defeat; after the Southampton defeat, I think there was an expectation from players that they’d be chastised, raking over the coals almost after that game because you’ve lost at home to bottom-of-the-table Southampton. But it was very measured still from Potter.

“That surprised some people because under Thomas Tuchel that wouldn’t have happened. That isn’t an ideal place you want to be where people are referencing Tuchel back at you because that era is over and gone.

“But it shows you sometimes that players do need that kick up the backside when things are going wrong. Maybe that is something Graham Potter isn’t going to do because that’s not his style.”

Potter is really under pressure right now at Chelsea amid calls from fans to see him sacked. His next two games are reportedly ‘make or break’ and so he will need a reaction from his players. It’s a potential case of now or never.

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