Reece James has insisted that Graham Potter is still the right man to lead Chelsea, despite Sunday's desperate defeat to Tottenham.
Goals from Oliver Skipp and Harry Kane ultimately sunk the Blues, who have now won just two of their 13 games since English football returned after the World Cup. It leaves Potter's men in 10th in the Premier League table, 14 points adrift of Spurs in fourth.
The pressure is now ramping up on the Englishman amid that dreadful run of form, with Potter at increasing risk of being sacked. Despite those questions over his suitability for the job, star defender James has insisted the squad remain fully behind their beleaguered boss.
"Nothing happens overnight. We don’t just wake up tomorrow and we’re out of the situation we’re in, it’s going to take weeks and months to get to where we’re meant to be," he told beIN Sports.
"But we’re all on the same page, we’re sticking together and that’s a big positive."
Asked if Potter is as good as previous Chelsea managers he’s played under, James replied: "Yeah, for sure. Everyone has seen how good of a manager he is. That showed when he was at Brighton and they were in and around top four.
"His ability is definitely not questionable. He’s in a similar position to us players – we’re the ones out there on the pitch performing – so just as much stick he gets the players are playing as well, we’re in it together.
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"I think it’s hard to say, it’s not like we’re not trying, we’re giving it our all but results are simply not going our way at the moment. It’s not like the players are sacking it, or anything like this, we’re working hard, it’s just results are not falling our way at the moment."
Potter has also come out fighting in the aftermath of the defeat, though admitted his disappointment at the loss. But he insisted that his side had still delivered a positive performance.
"I’m frustrated of course, disappointed with the result. I thought we started the game well. For the first 20 to 30 minutes we were playing well," he said.
"The first half was relatively even, Spurs had a moment as well themselves, there was nothing in the game. In a tight game, often the first goal is really important. We didn't do enough to score and then the killer goal is the second one.
"It is a game when it is not easy to create chance after chance because Tottenham defend well, in terms of numbers and with a back five. The feeling among the players is one of support.
"They're fighting for each other. They're fighting for the team. They want to do better and they're hurting. I can feel that they want the results to get better and we're in a really tough moment. I feel for them and my job is to try to support them."
