CHELSEA’S torrid winless run continues as they were stunned by relegation-battling Southampton at Stamford Bridge.James Ward-Prowse’s stunning free-kick was enough to seal the deal in West London.
But the game was clouded by Cesar Azpilicueta’s horrific injury which saw the Spaniard stretchered off in the second half.
RESULT: Chelsea 0-1 Southampton
TV channel: This game is NOT televised in the UK
Chelsea XI: Kepa; Chilwell, Badiashile, Koulibaly, Azpilicueta; Kovacic, Enzo; Madueke, Felix, Mount; Fofana.
Southampton XI: Bazunu; Armstrong, Maitland-Niles, Bednarek, Bella-Kotchap, Perraud; Ward-Prowse, Lavia, Elyounoussi; Sulemana, Onuachu
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Potter on Azpilicueta
Chelsea manager Graham Potter said the club will “keep monitoring” Cesar Azpilicueta’s condition.
Potter said: “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”
Credit: Alamy
More from Potter
Chelsea boss Graham Potter addressed calls for his dismissal.
When asked if he was still the man for the Chelsea job, Potter said: “There’s no conspiracy. Sorry, I can’t give you 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”
Graham Potter hits back
Chelsea manager Graham Potter insists he is “not the problem” after the 1-0 loss to Southampton.
Potter said: “After a 1-0 defeat at home, any criticism you get is understandable.
“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”
Christian Atsu tribute
Chelsea have paid a touching tribute to former player Christian Atsu, who has passed away aged 31 after the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria.
The Blues’ tribute read: “It is with enormous sadness that Chelsea Football Club receives the news that Christian Atsu is confirmed as one of the many victims of the dreadful earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
“Atsu was a Chelsea player between 2013 and 2017 having signed from Porto. He did not make a competitive appearance for our men’s first team having spent his seasons as a Blue out on loan, although he featured in some pre-season games.
“During those years, the Ghanaian international was named the Player of the Tournament at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, also scoring the Goal of the Tournament as Ghana finished runners up.
“His loans took him to Vitesse, Everton, Bournemouth, Malaga and Newcastle before he was transferred permanently to St James’ Park. He moved to Turkey to play for Hatayspor last year.
“Chelsea sends our heartfelt condolences to Christian’s family and friends and to all those affected by the earthquake tragedy”
Ward-Prowse’s Beckham record
Southampton star James Ward-Prowse moved within one Premier League free-kick goal of David Beckham with his latest sizzler.
Ward-Prowse, 28, stepped up and delivered another ripper to grab the winner at Chelsea to complete the double for the first time since 1988.
The midfielder’s 45th-minute effort curled beautifully over the Blues wall and into the back of Kepa Arrizabalaga’s net – prompting his trademark golf-swing celebration.
That was the England international’s third direct free-kick league finish of this season alone – plus one in the FA Cup – and 17th overall.
And the Saints captain is now just one behind the all-time Prem record of 18 held by David Beckham for 20 years
Credit: Getty
Off you Pott
Chelsea were booed off at full-time after their shock 1-0 loss to Southampton at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues were jeered with fans calling for manager Graham Potter’s head.
One fan in desperation tweeted: “SACK GRAHAM POTTER BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.”
Another said: “Graham Potter this is an absolute embarrassment but the players aren’t exempt from criticism either. S***show from top to bottom.”
A third added: “People won’t believe in God but will believe in Graham Potter. It’s a sad world we live in”
Fans react after Azpilicueta injury
Chelsea fans took to Twitter to send their best wishes to Cesar Azpilicueta after his horror injury.
One said: “I hope Azpilicueta is okay. That looked horrible, it really did. Real class shown by both the team’s medical staffs. Just hoping he is okay.”
Another wrote: “Awful injury to our Dave [Azpilicueta’s injury]. I hope to goodness it’s not as serious as it looks.”
And a third added: “Scary scenes at Stamford Bridge – prayers for Azpilicueta”
Chelsea stars shocked
Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta suffered a horror blow to the face when Southampton’s Sekou Mara attempted an overhead kick in hugely distressing scenes.
Azpilicueta was struck by the stray boot in his own penalty area during the Premier League defeat to Saints at Stamford Bridge.
Doctors from both teams initially tended to the full-back but St John’s Ambulance paramedics took over in disturbing scenes in West London.
Players on both sides looked visibly shocked after the freak accidental incident occurred
Credit: Getty
More from Potter
“After a 1-0 defeat at home, any criticism you get is understandable, we’ve had a lot of injuries/challenges integrating players in the league.
“A lot of people will say I’m the problem and I’m not saying that their opinion is not worth articulating. My job is to work.”
Potter on the performance
“It was below par in the first half. I take as much responsibility as anyone in that. I thought we deserved a goal in the second half. You need score.”
Azpilicueta latest
Potter also adds that the Chelsea captain was unconscious at one point.
Azpilicueta conscious in hospital
Good news from Stamford Bridge as Graham Potter confirms Cesar Azpilicueta is in hospital but is consicious and responsive – and with his wife.
Potter says: “He’s in hospital, the best place. He’s conscious and he’s speaking to his wife.”
Credit: Getty
Ruben Selles on Azpilicueta
The Southampton caretaker says he hasn’t had a chance to see it back, but wishes the Chelsea captain a speedy recovery.
He has also asked Willy Caballero – the former Chelsea keeper who was on the Southampton bench today – to keep him up to speed with the latest news.
Ruben Selles
“I didn’t have enough time to invent a different system. I identified anyway with the principles from before. If anyone wants to beat us then they’ll have to be at their best. We knew if we performed at our best level, we could win.”
Ruben Selles
On the vacant manager’s job: “I look like a manager because I am a manager.
“It’s not for me and not for today. We had a fantastic week of work.”
Ruben Selles is here
On the win: “This has been a very difficult year for all of us, so to have that performance, to see the reaction, I was very happy for them.”
No sign of either manager
The press room is still packed and there is no sign of either manager just yet.
There’s still not any news on Azpilicueta.
‘Sack Graham Potter’
The inevitable social media backlash has already started with ‘SACK GRAHAM POTTER’ trending on Twitter in the aftermath of the defeat.
What does this mean for Potter?
As far as we know, Graham Potter still has the full backing of Todd Boehly and the Chelsea board, even in the face of his poor start at the club, which has been much publicised this week.
However, unlike with Dortumund in midweek when it was easy to argue that Chelsea were unlucky and could’ve won but for poor finishing, that certainly wasn’t the case today.
Southampton started the game better, dominated the physical battle and had the better chances in the first half.
Chelsea improved after the break, but the same issues in the final third were cropping up – where poor finishing and a lack of synergy in attack hampered their play.
Saints marching on
Stat of the day: 33% of Southampton’s points this season have come in their two wins against Chelsea.
‘Can we play you every week?’
No word on Azpi
We are still awaiting official word on the condition of Cesar Azpilicueta, after he was taken off on a stretcher late in the game.
Graham Potter is expected to emerge and face the press soon and is likely to bring an update.
Chelsea fans unimpressed
Stamford Bridge was not only met with huge boos at full time but further boos when certain players went straight down the tunnel without acknowleding their support.
Surprisingly, it was Wesley Fofana who dragged several team-mates over to the Matthew Harding Stand to applaud, which was greatly appreciated by the fans there.
FULL TIME: Chelsea 0-1 Southampton
There you have it! Bottom of the Prem Southampton beat Chelsea at home – what will that do for Graham Potter’s tenure?
Loud boos – as loud a noise as has been heard at Stamford Bridge today – ring out around the ground.
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