Chelsea Board backs Potter despite poor run of form

Graham Potter still has the support of Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly and the club’s board despite their poor run of form in the Premier League

The Blues have won just two of their past 14 games in all competitions and were beaten 1-0 by Premier League strugglers Southampton on Saturday.

Potter was appointed in September following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel.

However, Chelsea’s owners have made it clear that hiring Potter was part of a long-term project.

It is felt the team needs an opportunity to gel after a rebuild that has seen £583m spent on new players in the past two transfer windows, with eight new signings arriving in January alone.

It is also recognised the unprecedented injury crisis has also contributed to difficult circumstances for Potter.

A head injury to Cesar Azpilicueta in Saturday’s match adds another name to Chelsea’s lengthy injury list, which includes Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Christian Pulisic, Wesley Fofana, Edouard Mendy, Denis Zakaria and Armando Broja.

Potter’s future at Stamford Bridge will not be determined by success in the Champions League this season or the team’s ability to qualify for European football next season.

Although it is accepted Saturday’s result was not good enough - Southampton are bottom of the Premier League table - it is felt there are encouraging signs at the club.

Potter left Brighton and

U-20 AFCON: ‘I’m confident in my team’s abilities’ –Bosso

Nigeria coach Ladan Bosso says he is confident of his team’s abilities despite going down to Senegal in their opening match of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo on Sunday night.

Sulaymane Faye scored five minutes before half-time to secure all three points for coach Malick Daf’s Cubs in the Egyptian capital in their Group A clash with the Flying Eagles.

The seven-time champions had to play the closing stages with a man down following Ahmed Abdullahi’s sending off for a dangerous challenge.

Despite the setback the Nigerian trainer insists they will recover to excel in the tournament being played in Egypt.

“We take advantage of tournaments like this in order to develop our level and work to fix our mistakes. In the end, I trust the team and their ability to qualify fto the next round, and that we will achieve our biggest goal, which is to reach the World Cup,’ said Bosso.

Bossu and his charges will be seeking to make up for Sunday’s loss in order to maintain a chances of reaching the quarter final.

The WAFU-A champions will battle against the hosts who were held to a goalless draw by Mozambique.

“The next match is very difficult, especially since it will be against Egypt, the host country,” Bossu told reporters.

signed a five-year deal with Chelsea following Tuchel’s sacking.

Chelsea have won nine of their 25 games under Potter and sit 10th in the Premier League, 10 points off the Champions League places.

The Blues are next in action on Sunday at fourth-placed Tottenham (13:30 GMT).