Despite Chelsea’s season reaching a new and worrisome low when they were defeated 1-0 at Stamford Bridge by the Premier League’s bottom team Southampton, Graham Potter says he is “not the problem.”

James Ward-free Prowse’s kick was converted on the stroke of halftime, moving the Saints captain one goal behind David Beckham in the competition’s all-time standings and sending Graham Potter’s squad to its fourth straight league game without a victory.

Potter saw his team struggle to find any inventiveness against a Saints side put up by interim manager Ruben Selles to frustrate the hosts’ expensively constructed attacking cavalry, despite having five of the club’s eight January arrivals in the starting Lineup.

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Everything they deserved was a win in their opening game following Nathan Jones’ dismissal.

“After a 1-0 defeat at home, any criticism you get is understandable,” said Potter.

“We’ve had a tough period and lots of challenges in terms of integrating young players in the Premier League.

“When you don’t get results, it can be tough. That’s how it is. Some people will think I’m the problem.

“I don’t think they’re right but that doesn’t mean they can’t articulate their views.

“We took a step back in terms of our performance in the first half.

“The response in the second half was good but not good enough.”

Chelsea had scored just once at home in 2023, and yet again it was brutally clear that they lacked a reliable striker.

When questioned if he was still the right candidate for the post and why he hadn’t spoken to the media earlier, Potter responded, “There is no conspiracy. I’m sorry, but I can’t provide that.

“I always come in and speak to you guys and understand the questions.

“When we’ve lost 1-0 at home to Southampton, it isn’t good enough because of the results we’ve had recently.”

After getting kicked in the head by Sekou Mara’s boot as he sought to clear the ball, Azpilicueta was taken off the field on a stretcher and was wearing an oxygen mask.

About Azpilicueta’s state, Potter added:

“He’s in hospital so he’s in the best place.

“He’s conscious and speaking to his wife so that’s good.

“We’ll keep monitoring him. We have to take all the precautions now as it was worrying. It was a horrible incident.”