Graham Potter accepts it is difficult to "see any light" amid Chelsea's dismal run of form. Yet the Blues head coach insists lessons are being learned about what is needed to get the club competing at the top of the Premier League table once again.
Chelsea currently sit tenth in the top flight having taken just six points from their previous nine league matches. Performances have been as concerning as results in that period and – despite an ever-increasing number of injuries – Potter has come under significant pressure.
His job is not at imminent risk. That is no great surprise. When Potter relocated to Stamford Bridge from Brighton in September, it was on the understanding he would be given time to execute the club's long-term vision, one that the ownership group are understood to remain committed to.
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Potter knows recent results in the Premier League have been unacceptable – and understands there are few positive signs for supporters to cling to. However, the Chelsea head coach believes the difficulties that are being faced will inform how the club returns to the top echelon of the Premier League.
"I can't sit here and say things are improving when the results are what they are," said Potter. "What we do know is we know a lot more about the club, a lot more about the players, a lot more about what we need to do to get the club back to where we think it can be – and where it should be.
"At the moment, it isn’t there. Lots of things have happened over a period of time that have manifested themselves into the situation we’re in now. Then we have to make sure we act well going forward. But at the moment it’s tough. It’s tough to see any light or any green shoots because we’re still hurting from defeat."
The Chelsea head coach added: "We started back after the break having thought about certain things, but then we've lost Reece [James], Wesley [Fofana], Raheem [Sterling] and Christian [Pulisic], so it’s almost like back to the drawing board. That’s how it pretty much felt.
"It feels like we take one step and then something happens. We feel like we're making progress watching Joao Felix and then, boof, he’s not here for three matches. That’s where we’ve been at the moment. I’m sure our supporters don’t want to hear that. They want to see better results and better performances but it’s the position we’re in and we’re suffering and trying our best to improve it."
An accusation that has been levelled at Potter and his side this season is that they are unable to handle adversity. Too often, matches have been wrestled away from Chelsea's control and the Blues have wilted under the pressure. Although Potter was keen to stress that wasn't the case against Fulham on Thursday night.
He said: "Everybody at the club is suffering and looking – not necessarily for someone to blame – but for a simple answer. And it’s obviously not that simple. The players are supportive. They want to do better than they are, want to get better results. We know the challenges we have but don’t want to use them as an excuse. They are what they are.
"I thought the players down to 10 men kept going [against Fulham]. The spirit was good. the attitude was good. It’s not easy with 10 men and I think Fulham didn’t do that much. It's why I'm disappointed with the goal. I don’t see any problem with the mentality. I just think we have to improve."
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