Graham Potter admits Chelsea players have not responded to his coaching methods

Graham Potter admits that his Chelsea job is in peril but insists he retains the support of his players.

The Blues manager is under pressure to end a six-game winless run at home to Leeds on Saturday.

With his side in 10th and having scored just once in the last six games, the atmosphere among 40,000 supporters at Stamford Bridge could turn toxic if further points are dropped.

Speaking ahead of a week that could define his future in west London, Potter accepted that he can’t get too comfortable about his position, even while being backed by the club’s owners.

He explained on Friday: “When you are a head coach and you start on this journey you say well if the results aren’t good enough then you know your job is in peril. That’s the life we lead.

“I just have to accept that and do my best and try to improve the situation we are in until there is a point where we are not able to go forward. But that hasn’t been the case and we keep fighting.”

Making matters worse, the Blues will be without Thiago Silva for six weeks after injured his knee ligaments in the 2-0 defeat to Tottenham last week.

He added: “You’re always going to miss a player and a person of Thiago Silva’s quality. But at the same time, it’s an opportunity for other players.

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“There’s not another Thiago Silva so we need to find a solution as a group together. I think that’s what the players have been working towards.

Mason Mount and Cesar Azpilicueta are also out, while Reece James faces a late fitness test over a tight hamstring.

There will be little sympathy, however, for the Blues boss who has 32 players at his disposal and who leads a club that has spent a world record £500million in the last two transfer windows on 17 players.

Asked about whether he feels the support of his players, Potter initially responded: “Yes, yes I do.”

He then added that they haven’t always been responsive to his coaching methods: “When you’ve had the results we have had clearly it is not perfect otherwise you would have better results.

“Clearly it is a process of how to get our message across better. How can we structure things in a way to help the players because that is what we are here for.

“When results aren’t good, from my point of view you have to accept that we haven’t done it well enough.

“Now that’s the reality we are in and I am sure the players will take responsibility and admit they can do better as well.

“We are in it together. I don’t feel any loss of anything.

“I feel the support of the players, I feel the support of everyone here. I understand the frustrations externally but among the players, it is a desire for us all to do better and that is the pleasing thing. The results haven’t been good but we are still fighting for each other.”

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