'New signings shocked' by Chelsea 'pressure' as Potter receives backlash from 'angry' senior stars

Graham Potter is finding it increasingly difficult to keep his Chelsea side happy as he seeks to redress their poor form, according to reports.

The Blues' 2-0 loss to Tottenham in north London on Sunday saw Potter's side - who are currently tenth in the Premier League - fall 14 points behind fourth-placed Spurs.

It's now a win in their last 11 Premier League games and back-to-back defeats to Southampton and London rivals Tottenham mean Potter is under increasing pressure.

It seems the majority of Chelsea fans have now lost faith, with Stamford Bridge supporters booing Potter and his team off the pitch after their last home game against Saints.

There is sympathy in some quarters for the former Brighton boss, with Potter having to settle for £600million in new signings over the past two transfer windows.

And now the Daily Telegraph says Potter is under scrutiny from inside his own dressing room as well as from above in the Chelsea boardroom.

The Telegraph claims:

"Chelsea's run isn't just testing owners' faith, with senior players worried about whether or not Potter can turn the tide, new signings shocked by the pressure they're already under and the anger of those who are to be removed from the match day squad.'

It is understood that "more than one of the players left out of the matchday squad for the Spurs game were shocked to learn they wouldn't even be on the substitutes' bench".

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The report describes games against Leeds United and Borussia Dortmund as 'make or break' for Potter. The Telegraph added:

'Given the current circumstances, that seems pretty significant and while he wasn't sacked immediately after the Dortmund game if Chelsea failed to win either of their next two matches, those those around the club, including the players, believe that there will ultimately be no return.'

Chelsea defender Reece James insists players and manager are 'staying together' and more time is needed to turn things around.

"Nothing happens overnight," James told beIN Sport.

"We don't just wake up tomorrow and get out of the situation we're in, it's going to take weeks and months to get to where we're supposed to be.

"But we're all on the same wavelength, we stick together and that's a big positive."

When asked if Potter was as good as the other managers he played under at Chelsea, James replied: "Yes, of course.

"Everyone has seen how good a manager he is. It showed when he was at Brighton and they were in and around the top four. His ability is certainly not in question.

"He's in a similar position to us players - we're the ones who play on the pitch - so as much as he gets stick as the players also play, we're in the same boat.

"I think it's hard to say, it's not like we're not trying, we're giving it our all, but the results just aren't going our way right now.

"It's not like the players are firing him, or anything like that, we're working hard, it's just that the results aren't going down at the moment."

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