The noise was deafening as David Coote blew the full-time whistle on Saturday afternoon. Stamford Bridge was met with a chorus of boos as Chelsea fell to yet another Premier League defeat, this time at the hands of bottom-place Southampton.
"Resign! You don't know what you're doing," could be heard from some parts of the stadium. Graham Potter is under huge pressure as Chelsea head coach right now and he knows it.
"After a 1-0 defeat at home, any criticism you get is understandable," Potter told reporters. "I think we've had a tough period and I think we've had lots of challenges in terms of integrating young players into the Premier League. While results don't go your way it can be tough, that is how it is.
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"I'm sure there will be people out there that think I'm the problem, absolutely. I don't think they're right but I'm not arrogant enough to say their opinion isn't worth articulating. My job is to help the team, keep working through a team period, we've had to make some changes today and the truth is we took a step back in our performance in the first-half. The response in the second-half was good, but it wasn't good enough."
It's not the first time Potter has come under pressure in management. You don't have to go back too far to see his Brighton team being booed off after a goalless draw with Leeds United at the Amex Stadium.
In November 2021, the Seagulls were held to a 0-0 stalemate by the Whites and despite the hosts being in eighth-place in the Premier League table at the time, the team were met with a flood of boos as the full-time whistle was blown. Potter looked bemused at the time.
"They're entitled to their opinion but I disagree with them completely," Potter explained to Sky Sports after the game. "You have to understand the game, who we're playing against, how we did. I think we're sitting eighth in the Premier League but maybe I need a bit of a history lesson at this football club."
It's a very similar stance to the one Potter has now. He is willing to listen to other people's opinion on him but he wholeheartedly disagrees. Potter is convinced he is the right man for Chelsea.
"When results aren't going well, this is the world we're in," Potter said. "There is a transition and factors but at the same time there is emotion and the team is losing.
"When we've had the results we've had, I can understand. I'm not stupid. I'm not naive. My job is to try and keep going, help the team, support them through a tough period and take that. criticism."
football.london understands Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali remain supportive of Potter – for now – and his job at the club is not under serious threat. Behind the scenes, there remains a strong appreciation for his work.
Thomas Tuchel was relieved of his duties after a 100-day review was held by the ownership. It's understood a similar review was done on Potter during last year's World Cup break but the owners remainder satisfied with the progress the 47-year-old was making behind the scenes.
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