Thoughts on today’s game?
“We’re frustrated, of course. Disappointed with the result. I thought we started the game well and for the first 20/25 minutes were playing well. We had good regains high-up, decent control and drove them back a bit. We had some opportunities in terms of shots and there was a good energy in the team.
"The first half was relatively even I thought. They had a moment but there was nothing in the game. The second half starts as badly as you can start and once you’re a goal down…in a tight game, the first goal is often really important. We huffed and puffed in the second half but didn’t do enough to score. The second goal is a killer one, from a set-piece, in a game without too many opportunities.”
READ MORE: Chelsea player ratings vs Tottenham as Enzo Fernandez battles, Kai Havertz poor
How is Thiago Silva?
“I’m not sure. Hopefully it’s not too serious but I haven’t spoken to the doctor enough to have a diagnosis for you.”
How important is it going to lift the players this week?
“My job is always to try to pick the players up and support them. They need support as well because they are hurting. I know and can feel it, they want results to get better. We’re in a really tough moment and I feel for them. My job is to try to support them.”
Is confidence a big issue at the moment or do you still see belief?
“We do. The week in training we’ve had has been really, really good. The spirit in the team has been really good. We thought we were taking steps forward and then in the first half against Southampton, we went back a bit. Until then we were taking steps forward.
"We played well in the first half I thought today – and in a game that isn’t easy to create chance after chance because Tottenham defend well in a back five. The feeling among the players is one of support. They are fighting for each other and fighting for the team. They want to do better and are hurting. I feel for them.”
Are you concerned about what this defeat will do for your standing among supporters?
“I can’t necessarily think too much 40,000 or 50,000 people. I need to focus on what I can control, which is the next day and the next training session. Our supporters have been very fair and I have supported the team. I’ve no complaints with the supporters. They are entitled to be frustrated, upset and angry with the results we’ve got and that is my responsibility. So I have no complaints with the supporters.”
There was another six changes today, do you know your best team yet?
“The fact there was a third game in a week [after Dortmund] made it difficult to keep picking the same XI. We played in Dortmund on a Wednesday, returned at 4am, then played a Premier League game on a Saturday. There was one change to the Dortmund game today, which was Raheem [Sterling] in for Misha [Mykhailo Mudryk].
"Ruben Loftus-Cheek, for example, Thiago Silva and Reece James were unable to play against Southampton. That is just where we’re at. I’ve tried to explain many times about long-term injuries, players are just not able to play three games in a week [after them]. I have a duty of care to them, and to their welfare, to make sure they’re not on the pitch and risking injury.
"If Reece James, god forbid, injures himself because of an overload issue because he hasn’t had time to recover or play three games in a week, that is on me. Obviously, I take the consequences which are we change the team. But from West Ham to Dortmund to this game, I don’t think there are too many changes.”
No Mateo Kovacic, what was the reason for that? And the other absentees?
“Mateo was ill. The rest were unfortunate to be out of the squad.”
How do you solve the goalscoring issues?
I think it’s a combination of a few things. It’s an easy question to ask – and not a bad question at all – it’s not the easiest one to answer either. Sometimes you go through moments when you create chances and don’t score them, which we had against Dortmund and Southampton.
"Today I don’t think was a game of that. There were minimal chances for both teams in a tight game. The first goal was always going to be important and we didn’t get it. There was an element of players coming back from injury, getting them up to speed, and integrating a couple of new ones.
"So as a team, we’ve not quite there in how we want it to look and function in a good way. And scoring goals is the difficult part of the game.”
How do you see the race for the top four now?
“After a result like today, and where we are, my focus is on the next match against Leeds. That is what I’m going to think about. We need to lift the mood, lift the spirit, find a good feeling. Hopefully, we can get a nice game and three points because that is really important for us at this stage. We can’t look anything apart from that.”
The owners have been very supportive of you, but with every disappointing result do you understand that has the chance to change?
“There is always that question, absolutely, and you can’t stop the questions. While results are what they are, I accept it. It’s part of the job. We were talking before the game about watching the Arsenal All or Nothing and two years into Mikel [Arteta's] reign he is close to getting the sack and people want him out. It was seen as a disaster but things have now changed a bit.
"If you look at Jurgen [Klopp’s] situation, they haven’t got the results and all of a sudden people want him out. That is the nature of football. I haven’t done enough at this club to have too much good faith; I also accept that.
"My job isn’t to worry about that too much. I understand the question and where it comes from, but I have to try to focus on keeping on helping the team and supporting the players. I really like these players, they’re good lads. They want to do better and want to win. But at the moment we’re suffering and that is my responsibility."
READ NEXT :
Chelsea handed major injury blow against Tottenham as Thiago Silva forced off
Why Hakim Ziyech's red card was overturned as Tottenham vs Chelsea caught in VAR chaos
Graham Potter reveals Antonio Conte advice and messages ahead of Chelsea clash with Tottenham
Graham Potter tipped for huge future managerial job despite Chelsea pressure and sacking calls
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge
