Chelsea’s woes continued as they suffered a 1-0 loss to relegation-threatened Southampton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
The defeat added further pressure on manager Graham Potter, who has struggled to revive Chelsea’s fortunes since taking over from Thomas Tuchel in September.
FULL-TIME Chelsea 0-1 Southampton
James Ward-Prowse silences the hosts as Southampton do the double over Chelsea for the first time in the #PL#CHESOU pic.twitter.com/MaNdeY0Wui
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 18, 2023
Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse scored the only goal of the game just before half-time from a free-kick, which proved to be enough to give the Saints a crucial three points. Chelsea dominated possession throughout the game, but they failed to convert their chances.
The home side suffered a major blow in the second half when their captain, Cesar Azpilicueta, was involved in a goalmouth clash and received a kick to the head. The Spaniard required nearly 10 minutes of treatment on the pitch before he was eventually carried off on a stretcher.
Also Read: Trossard Scores as Seagulls Stun Toothless Chelsea on Potter Return
The result leaves Chelsea with just one win in their last 10 games this calendar year, putting an end to a disappointing week for the club. They suffered a late defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie earlier in the week.
Chelsea are now languishing in 10th place on 31 points from 23 games, 10 points adrift of the top four. Potter, who spent heavily in the January transfer window, has failed to deliver the desired results despite his efforts to turn the club’s fortunes around.
The defeat to Southampton is likely to increase pressure on Potter, who is under scrutiny from the club’s board and fans. The Chelsea faithful are growing increasingly frustrated with the team’s poor form and lack of progress under the new manager.
Potter will need to make significant improvements to the team’s performances if he hopes to save his job and guide Chelsea to a respectable finish this season. With several key fixtures coming up, including a crucial clash against Manchester United, the pressure is on for the manager and his players to deliver.