Graham Potter says Joao Felix's red card was the turning point in Chelsea's 2-1 defeat to Fulham, but the under-fire Blues boss understands why the debutant was dismissed.

Chelsea had levelled Thursday's contest at Craven Cottage when Joao Felix was sent off by referee David Coote for a studs-up challenge on Kenny Tete.

Carlos Vinicius went on to head home a winner for Fulham as they beat their west London rivals for only the fourth time in 53 top-flight matches, and the first time since 2006.

Potter was left to rue a sloppy challenge from Joao Felix, who was thrust straight into the starting XI after arriving on a short-term loan deal from Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

He is the first Chelsea player to be sent off on his Premier League debut, and the first for any club since Federico Fazio for Tottenham against Manchester City in October 2014.

"It was a forwards' tackle. There was no malice in it but I understand why it was a red," Potter told BT Sport of the Portugal international's lunge on Tete.

"It is another blow for us; the hits keep coming at the moment. [Joao Felix] was really good. You could see his quality in the game so it is doubly disappointing for us."

Willian had given Fulham the lead against his former side Chelsea, but the visitors responded through Kalidou Koulibaly's close-range finish after Mason Mount had hit the post.

Carlos Vinicius' first goal for Fulham prolongs 10th-placed Chelsea's terrible run of form, which now stands at seven defeats in 10 matches in all competitions.

"I think we controlled the game early, won the ball back high, created some opportunities, maybe missed the last pass. We made a couple of mistakes for their goal," Potter said.

"Second-half I think we responded well and then the red card changes the game. It makes it a little more difficult for us.

"But I thought the application when we went down to 10 was really good. I'm disappointed with the [winning] goal because I think we could do better and that is what cost us."

Chelsea's return of 25 points from their first 18 Premier League matches is their fewest at this stage since the 2015-16 campaign (18 points), when going on to finish 10th.

Further questions will inevitably be asked of Potter, who only succeeded Thomas Tuchel in September, but the Englishman has called on his squad to stick together.

"We have got to keep working, there is no other solutions," he said. "You have to keep working stay together and try to get the three points."

Former Chelsea winger Willian did not celebrate his first-half opener against old suitors Chelsea, whom he won five major honours with earlier in his career.

"I had an amazing seven years at Chelsea," said Willian, who is the 26th player to score against Chelsea in the Premier League after previously playing for them.

"I have a big respect for the fans and the club. I play for Fulham now and have to do my best. It was a special night.

"We deserved the win. We know how difficult it is to play against Chelsea. They are in a difficult moment but we are a really good team. We deserved it and we have to carry on."

A fourth top-flight win in a row for Fulham – the first time they have achieved that since April 1966 (a run of five) – moves them within four points of the Champions League spots.

Debutant Joao Felix's red card proved costly as Carlos Vinicius earned Fulham a 2-1 win over west London rivals Chelsea that piles even more pressure on head coach Graham Potter.

Joao Felix was named in injury-hit Chelsea's starting line-up, a day after joining on loan from Atletico Madrid, and saw red for a lunge on Kenny Tete shortly before the hour mark.

Chelsea had fought their way back into the match at the time of that dismissal after Kalidou Koulibaly's close-range finish cancelled out former Blues winger Willian's first-half opener at Craven Cottage.

Fulham were without suspended top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic, but Carlos Vinicius headed in his first Fulham goal in the 73rd minute to land his side a rare win in this fixture and make it six defeats in eight for Chelsea.

Bernd Leno did well to keep out an early Lewis Hall strike in a bright start from Chelsea, with Joao Felix looking particularly lively in the final third.

Fulham soon grew into the game and struck the crossbar through a powerful Bobby Decordova-Reid effort, shortly after Carlos Vinicius had a penalty shout rejected.

However, Willian gave Fulham the lead when Chelsea's defence backed off and allowed the winger to fire away a shot that deflected off Trevoh Chalobah on its way through.

Leno continued to frustrate Chelsea, but he was almost caught out by a Mason Mount free-kick that struck the right-hand post and landed nicely for Koulibaly to squeeze over the line.

Chelsea lost another player to injury when Denis Zakaria hobbled off and then had Joao Felix dismissed for a studs-up challenge on Tete.

More misery was to follow for Chelsea and Potter as Andreas Pereira played in a delightful cross for Carlos Vinicius to get above Chalobah and power home a winning goal at the back post.

Harry Redknapp has backed Graham Potter to be a success at Chelsea once the former Brighton and Hove Albion boss has his best players available.

Potter is enduring a difficult time at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea having lost six of their past eight games.

The Blues have won just once during that poor run, beating Premier League strugglers Bournemouth 2-0 at home on December 27.

Sunday's 4-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup served up a stark example of the gulf between 10th-placed Chelsea and teams battling for the title, yet Redknapp insists Potter, who replaced Thomas Tuchel in September, simply needs time to get to work.

Chelsea's injury list is a long one, with Reece James, Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana, Christian Pulisic, N'Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Edouard Mendy the first-team regulars out of action.

"You can't sack the lad can you, he's not been there 10 minutes – he's got a million injuries you know, you've got injuries galore, both his full-backs, Chilwell, James, important players, Fofana came in unfit, they've got lots of injuries," Redknapp told Stats Perform.

"They have still got a very, very strong squad. They've spent money like it's going out of fashion but he needs time. He's only as good as your players at the moment – it's not rocket science. People seem to think you go in and show them how to play football. It doesn't work like that.

"At the moment, he's got his best players missing and they're struggling to win. When they get back in the team, you'll see a massive improvement."

Chelsea have been active in the January transfer window, signing four players already, while they are also eager to land Benfica's World Cup star Enzo Fernandez.

While that transfer appears to be on ice for now, the Blues confirmed the loan signing of Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

Redknapp does not think more signings are necessarily a silver bullet, however.

He said: "They've got enough players, they just need those back from injury – they need James back, they need Chilwell back. There's no reason they can't go on a run."

Potter has won eight of his 18 games in charge at Chelsea (44.4 per cent), and Redknapp says it would be foolish for the club to show him the door.

"Five years – you just gave him a five-year contract, you can't very well bring him in, give him a five-year contract and then sack him, surely to God," Redknapp said.

"I know they've done it before, Chelsea, that is the way they've worked. Managers who've won the Champions League and then they've been sacked a couple of games later, it happens. But I don't see that happening this time."

Graham Potter believes managing Chelsea is "the hardest job in football" due to the Blues' ownership change and expectations at Stamford Bridge.

Former Brighton and Hove Albion head coach Potter has struggled since arriving in west London, with Chelsea sat 10 points adrift of the Premier League's top four and 19 behind leaders Arsenal.

The Blues have won just one of their past eight matches in all competitions and have endured an equally poor run in the Premier League alone, leading Chelsea fans to chant for Potter's predecessor Thomas Tuchel.

Those calls for Tuchel came after back-to-back defeats to Manchester City, as some Blues supporters voiced their frustration at Potter's underwhelming start.

Todd Boehly's takeover after Roman Abramovich's departure has led to a significant overhaul at Chelsea, though, and Potter referenced those challenges as he reflected on a difficult period.

Ahead of Thursday's Premier League trip to Fulham, the Chelsea head coach said: "Change is challenging in any organisation. The change [of ownership] happened for events outside of us so it is not like there is some sort of coup gone on. This is what it is.

"We have to deal with the new now and we have to build things up again because things have changed, things have gone, people have left. That was part of the challenge to come [here].

"I understood that was going to be really difficult. I just thought from a leadership perspective, it is fascinating, challenging and stimulating, and ridiculously hard.

"I think this is probably the hardest job in football because of that leadership change and because of the expectations, and because of rightly where people see Chelsea. And obviously, I didn't think we would lose 10 first-team players [to injury] as well.

"But that's just where we're at. All I can do is come to you guys, speak honestly, give you my perspective and then understand the criticism you'll get because you lose, if you do."

Marina Granovskaia, technical and performance director Petr Cech, chairman Bruce Buck, chief executive Guy Laurence and head of international scouting Scott McLachlan were among those to leave Chelsea.

Boehly has replaced them with the likes of technical director Christopher Vivell from RB Leipzig, director of global talent and transfers Paul Winstanley, and Southampton's Joe Shields in senior recruitment.

The main criticism from Chelsea fans remains over the treatment Tuchel, who was dismissed in September despite winning the Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup in his 20-month Blues' spell.

Potter has no interest in asking for sympathy after some Chelsea supporters called for Tuchel's return, instead preferring to focus on the challenge ahead.

He added: "Ultimately, I am not after pity here. I am really grateful and privileged to be here. I look at how do you get through this tough period: be really grateful for it because it is an unbelievable challenge.

"Like, wow. What else could you be doing with your life? Worse. It is pain but then life can actually be pain.

"Life can really kick you in the nuts and then you have to recover from it, you have to deal with it, you have to move forward, you have to go again and that's what makes life better when it turns to a good place.

"I feel like I have to take my responsibility and be grateful for the opportunity and the challenge I have."

Graham Potter accepts he has not been "absolutely perfect" at Chelsea but is confident he can win his critics around – just like Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta before him.

The Chelsea coach is under increased scrutiny as the Blues have won only one of their past seven matches in all competitions and one of their last eight in the Premier League.

Back-to-back defeats to Manchester City had Chelsea fans chanting for Potter's predecessor Thomas Tuchel.

But he only had to look as far as the opposition dugout for a source of inspiration, with Guardiola's approach not universally popular at the start of his City tenure.

Guardiola has urged for Potter to be given time – the Blues coach says the owners have been "nothing but supportive" – while Arsenal manager Arteta and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp are other examples for him to follow.

"You have to understand [the criticism] is part of the job," Potter said ahead of Thursday's game against Fulham.

"You only have to look at some of my colleagues in a similar position.

"Pep, for example, in his first season, was being criticised quite heavily. I think Mikel Arteta has had a period of criticism. Klopp, in the first few years, would have had criticism as well. These guys are fantastic.

"You understand football is emotional. When you lose, you feel it; you feel the pain; you feel the suffering; you feel the discomfort.

"Sometimes it's hard to understand the 'why', and it's easier just to blame somebody. I'm sitting here saying it's not like I've been absolutely perfect, so they're not completely wrong, but I think it's always very complex.

"You just try to put it into perspective. You try to remember you're capable; you try to remember how you got here.

"Two months ago, I was considered to be a top coach. If you consider the people I've played against and played with, they'd probably say the same.

"But at the same time, I acknowledge the results we've had haven't been good enough for us. You have to accept and deal with it as best you can. Try to put it in perspective and keep moving forward."

Chelsea were already interested in new loan signing Joao Felix, but Graham Potter suggested the club's injury crisis "sharpened the focus" in the transfer market.

The Blues have been the big movers of the January window, signing Benoit Badiashile, David Datro Fofana and Andrey Santos on permanent deals.

Potter was also able to add Portugal forward Joao Felix on Wednesday as he agreed a temporary move until the end of the season from Atletico Madrid.

His arrival boosts a Chelsea side struggling in 10th in the Premier League, albeit Potter believes the number of injuries he is dealing with "can skew the picture a little bit".

"If we had those guys back, I think the picture changes, I really do," he said. "I don't think we're as far away as we may think from the outside."

Potter was uncertain if Joao Felix could immediately debut against Fulham on Thursday, as Chelsea wait on his registration, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be back after missing the previous match against Manchester City.

There was less positive news on Christian Pulisic, who may miss months, while Raheem Sterling is still being evaluated. Ben Chilwell remains out, and Reece James and N'Golo Kante are only now training on their own.

"We've been aware of [the Joao Felix deal] for a while; these things don't happen quickly," Potter said. "Obviously the injuries have maybe sharpened the focus a little bit."

Joao Felix underwhelmed after a record-breaking move to Atleti, but Potter would not be drawn on his career in Spain, which is set to be extended after the ex-Benfica man signed an extension at the same time as joining Chelsea.

The Chelsea coach's only assessment was Joao Felix is "a quality player" who "can make a difference in the final third of the pitch".

That has been a problem under Potter, with Chelsea netting only 20 league goals so far this season. His Brighton and Hove Albion team similarly had a reputation for struggling in attack.

However, Joao Felix alone will not be expected to turn the team's fortunes around, as Potter added: "My thoughts are you have to fix the team; it's not just one person to solve your problems."

Perhaps further signings could help the new man impact change, with Chelsea – heavily linked with Benfica's Enzo Fernandez – not necessarily done in the transfer market.

"There's time," Potter said. "Whether we'll find the right players or not is another thing."

He added: "We're happy with what we've done so far, but we'll keep going to try to improve the team."

Graham Potter admits Chelsea are "suffering" after fans were heard signing the names of former boss Thomas Tuchel and ex-owner Roman Abramovich during the FA Cup thrashing at Manchester City. 

The Blues were hammered 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, making their first exit from the famous competition at the third-round stage since the 1997-98 season.

Chelsea's latest setback continues a poor run, having lost 1-0 to City in the Premier League on Thursday to leave them with just one win in eight Premier League fixtures.

Blues fans let their feelings be known as they crashed out with a whimper, with Tuchel and Abramovich chants heard from the away end.

Head coach Potter told reporters: "The results in a small space of time aren't positive.

"You can make excuses and look for reasons, or you can say that it isn't good enough and both of those answers are correct.

"Clearly, we're suffering as a football club, and it's not nice, but it's where we are at the moment.

"We can't do anything but do our jobs better and work harder. We understand the supporters; frustration, but our job is to do our job.

"There are always other opinions, criticism and negativity, but that's part of the challenge."

Potter has no issue with the commitment of his players during such a difficult spell.

"This opponent is the worst opponent you can play when things aren't going well because they can make it look like you aren't trying," he added.

"I'm working with the players, and I don't feel the sense of any players with a poor attitude.

"Everyone wants to try to do better, but we're going through a bad moment and in these moments, you need somebody to blame."

Chelsea's poor run under Graham Potter continued as Manchester City cruised to an emphatic 4-0 victory in the FA Cup third round.

Three days on from going down 1-0 to City in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea capitulated at the Etihad Stadium.

Riyad Mahrez's stunning free-kick, Julian Alvarez's penalty and Phil Foden's close-range finish had City all but through by half-time on Sunday.

A late Mahrez spot-kick provided the fourth as City look forward to a possible fourth-round meeting with league leaders Arsenal – who must defeat Oxford United to make that tie – while Chelsea showed little sign that immediate improvement under Potter is on the horizon.

Cole Palmer should have done better early on, but City did not have to wait long for their lead – Mahrez curling a brilliant free-kick into the top-right corner after being fouled by Lewis Hall 25 yards from goal.

Kai Havertz's desperate handball gifted City a chance for a second following a VAR check, and World Cup winner Alvarez's penalty snuck in under Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Mahrez was key to an exceptional third goal to put the tie to bed, sliding a perfectly weighted pass through to Kyle Walker, whose cutback was expertly turned home by Foden.

Chelsea had their first shot in the 55th minute, but Stefan Ortega was hardly troubled by Mason Mount's effort.

At the other end, Chelsea could not avoid further damage as Kalidou Koulibaly clattered into Foden late on.

Mahrez made no mistake from the spot, slamming high down the middle to cap a superb win and a miserable day for Chelsea, who exited in the third round for the first time since the 1997-98 season.

Graham Potter is optimistic Todd Boehly will not prove as trigger-happy as Roman Abramovich while Chelsea fight to save their season.

Just one win from their last eight Premier League games has seen the Blues sink into mid-table, now 10 points behind fourth-placed Manchester United.

Hopes of reaching the Champions League qualifying places are fading, while Manchester City have already dumped them out of the EFL Cup, beaten them in the league, and could repeat the treatment in the FA Cup third round at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Chelsea have a Champions League last-16 tie against Borussia Dortmund still to look forward to, but emerging from their present slump is paramount, especially for Potter's future as head coach.

He was prised away from Brighton and Hove Albion in September after owner Boehly ditched Champions League-winning boss Thomas Tuchel, in a move that had echoes of the ruthlessness of the Abramovich era.

Chelsea have been busy in the transfer market however, a sign they are prepared to invest heavily to bring results, with Potter the man responsible for getting the wins.

He is surprised there is intense scrutiny on him, saying it is "maybe different for me for some reason" as he pointed out how Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta and Jurgen Klopp needed time to build their teams at City, Arsenal and Liverpool.

Comparing Chelsea now to the 19-year period when Abramovich called the shots, Potter said: "There's a completely different ownership than there was.

"This is hard for people to also get their head around because Chelsea for 20 years has been one thing, and now all of a sudden, it's different.

"But they still think back to what previously happened for 20 years. The reason for me to take the job was because you've got a chance to shape a club that's in a massive transitional period."

Potter said Chelsea have offered "fantastic" support and quipped that billionaire Boehly was "smarter than me, that's for sure".

"They understand the challenges that we have, and the direction we want to go in. I've been here four months, and five, six weeks of that have been lost to international football," he added.

"I think Pep was there a year before they won anything. And then obviously Mikel and Jurgen took a bit of time. But obviously it's maybe different for me for some reason."

Potter explained he shows anger at times and stressed he was not "some robot", while jokingly describing some reporters' questions as "stupid".

Addressing those reporters, Potter added: "There'll always be people that doubt. There will be people in here that will doubt, that's for sure. But I'm certainly not here to convince anybody. I'm here to do my work. And then if that convinces, then that's fine.

"I'm more confident now that we can achieve things than I was when I started the job because I understand the club and understand the players and understand what's needed. But obviously, with the past of Chelsea and the change of management, you can see why the questions are there."

Asked whether he recognised he was under pressure, Potter said: "I don't know, I don't read the newspapers, I stay away from social media."

He knows there is flak flying around though, and that some will never see the nuance.

"We've had a massive transition," Potter said. "Problems in terms of injuries don't make it easy to be stable. But it's sort of blah, blah, blah. You know people want to see results, and [they would say] 'Shut up Graham, what are you talking about, we need to win'."

Graham Potter has taken responsibility for Chelsea's struggles and intends to "ride out any storm" after the 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge to Manchester City.

A sixth defeat of the campaign leaves Chelsea 10 points behind fourth place, with the Blues as close to the relegation zone as they are to the Champions League spots.

The loss also hands Potter's side a grim record in the past eight games, with just one victory and four losses, totalling just six points from a possible 24.

Potter has had his fair share of bad injury luck, losing Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic early against Pep Guardiola's side on top of a training session blow for Mason Mount, but he is not using the packed treatment room as an excuse.

"When you consider everything, in terms of losing Raheem really early and Christian as well, the lads gave everything," Potter told Sky Sports. "It was a spirited performance, we had some opportunities against a top team. Apart from the result – you never like to lose – I'm proud of the players in terms of everything they gave.

"It's tough at the moment, I must admit, and I feel for the boys. We have to stick together. It was disappointing to lose the guys, but the players that came in, the players that were on the pitch, gave everything and that's all you can ask for."

Chelsea's injury list is preventing them reaching their potential, but Potter said: "We can't complain about it. We have to just get on with it.

"The boys that were on the pitch gave everything, and they did what we asked them to do. There was some spirit and some quality and some opportunities. Manchester City don't give you much, but I thought we earned something from the game, but it is what it is.

"You always have to take your responsibility, and when you're not playing well you want to improve that. But you hope people look at the whole context and see where we are and what we have had to deal with, but at the same time emotions are high, that's how it is, you have to try and ride out any storm and try to stay level."

Chelsea go again against City in the FA Cup on Sunday, then facing four London derbies in their next five Premier League matches – with the exception being a clash against Liverpool.

Graham Potter says Raheem Sterling's "challenging" start at Chelsea is understandable but he expects the forward to improve as he prepares to face former side Manchester City.

Sterling has come in for criticism since ending a successful and trophy-laden seven-season spell at Man City to join Chelsea in a reported £50million deal ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

That is despite the England international having scored and assisted more goals (nine) than any team-mate this season in his 21 appearances, while only Mason Mount has created more chances (32 to 28).

He was on the scoresheet in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest, which extended Chelsea's disappointing run of form to just one win in five either side of the 2022 World Cup.

With plenty of focus on Sterling ahead of Chelsea's double-header with City in the Premier League and FA Cup third round this week, Potter has called for more from the 28-year-old.

"It's been a challenge for him, I think. But it's been a challenging period for everybody," Potter told reporters. "There has been a lot of change here and a lot of things have happened. 

"In that regard, it's never easy to completely settle and completely hit the ground running. There's more to come from Raheem, I'm sure, but he gives his best every day. We need to help him get to the level that we know we can get to."

Sterling scored 91 goals in 225 Premier League appearances for City, who trail leaders Arsenal by eight points with a game in hand, despite the incredible form of striker Erling Haaland.

The Norway international has found the net 27 times in 21 games this season – seven goals more than any other player across Europe's top five leagues – including seven strikes in his six away league matches.

Rather than focus on Haaland's obvious strengths, however, Potter is focusing on the damage his Chelsea players can do to City's defence in Thursday's match at Stamford Bridge.

"Haaland's obviously had a fantastic season; the goals there are amazing," Potter said. "It's a top team, but we have to think about ourselves, and think about how we can do better.

"We need to think about how we can take steps forward in terms of our game. That's the approach we'll have. Playing well ourselves is the key.

"Then you have to understand the quality they have and try to stop it. It does sound simple when I articulate it now but obviously in reality it's not so straightforward. 

"They're a top team, but we can cause them a problem. We can be ourselves and try to play well and try to put them under pressure. We need to use Stamford Bridge to our advantage and then see what happens."

City boss Guardiola has lost eight times against Chelsea in all competitions, with that the joint-most defeats suffered against a single opponent in his coaching career alongside Liverpool.

However, Guardiola's City have won their past three matches against Chelsea without conceding a goal, most recently prevailing 2-0 in November's EFL Cup third-round tie when the Catalan exchanged words with Potter at full-time.

Asked about that conversation ahead of their latest encounter, Potter said: "It was a general football conversation. He understands the challenges that we have here and he's faced some similar ones himself. 

"It was just a conversation after a game you have with football coaches. It's nice, I think it's good. It's good that managers can speak because it's complicated when you're out there.

"There are always emotions, and we're all fighting for the points, but afterwards it's nice to be able to speak as human beings and talk about the game.

"I think if you did the research on football, and not just Pep but the people within the game that played against my teams and have watched the work that I've done, I think there's a general level of respect. 

"There certainly is from my perspective to him, because he's fantastic. He's a fantastic person. But also, what he's achieved as a footballer and was achieved as a coach is amazing."

Graham Potter described Chelsea's performance as "not good enough" after a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest – as Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink warned the Blues face Champions League misery.

Hasselbaink believes his former club are destined to miss out on a top-four finish after they slipped up at the City Ground on New Year's Day.

Chelsea won the Champions League only two seasons ago, and head coach Potter may find himself under pressure if they are not playing in Europe's premier club competition in the 2023-24 campaign.

The London club are eighth in the Premier League, seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester United.

Ex-Blues striker Hasselbaink told Sky Sports: "I think they are too far from the top four. Yes, they do miss some really important players – [Reece] James, [N'Golo] Kante, [Ben] Chilwell – but they are defensive-orientated players.

"He [Potter] needs to win matches, he needs to win as many matches as possible. Chelsea need to be in the Champions League. That's not going to happen.

"He's had a lot of injuries and you need to give him time. You need to give him time to mould his team."

Potter saw Chelsea squander an early lead on Sunday, with Raheem Sterling's strike countered by a fine second-half reply from Serge Aurier.

Former Brighton and Hove Albion boss Potter described it as "a hard-earned point against a team that's set up well", and he praised the spirit in the Forest ranks that saw them raise the tempo after half-time.

But that may not wash with the Chelsea supporters who expect their team to be able to ride out such pressure against teams battling to avoid relegation.

Forest, who are 18th in the table, could easily have secured all three points, as they had the better chances in a lively game.

Chelsea have won just one of their last seven Premier League games, losing three and drawing three in that run.

"Our performance level wasn't good enough, I don't think, to take the three points," Potter said.

"When we had control of the game we didn't move the ball fast enough, there wasn't enough movement for us, and when we lost control of the game we struggled a bit."

Potter said it "would have been unfair" if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had converted a late chance. As it happened, the striker failed to get his head on a cross from Hakim Ziyech.

The Chelsea boss said his side "didn't deserve to win the game with that", and he refused to discuss possible new signings, amid claims defender Benoit Badiashile is poised to sign from Monaco.

Asked about Champions League qualification, Potter said: "We've got a long way to go in terms of how we want the team to look and the performance level. It would be a mistake for us to worry about what can happen in five months' time.

"We need to focus on the next match and get our performance level better and more consistent."

The next match is a Premier League home game against reigning champions Manchester City on Thursday, and the game after that is another clash with City on Sunday in the FA Cup third round.

It gets no easier for Potter who said his team's midweek win against Bournemouth had been "a step forward".

"Today was a little bit of a backwards one," he added.

Graham Potter has told his Chelsea players there can be no excuses for failure in 2023 – even as injuries strike at the heart of their squad.

The head coach will be without the sidelined Reece James, Ben Chilwell, N'Golo Kante and Wesley Fofana, among others, as Chelsea begin the new year at Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Chelsea have lost their last three away games, last losing on four consecutive road trips in January and February 2019 under Maurizio Sarri, so the imperative is to end that dire streak immediately. Potter says he is experiencing his most "challenging" time as a coach.

Second-bottom Forest have not hosted Chelsea at the City Ground since February 1999, and Potter is wary of what he expects to be a fierce welcome by the River Trent.

However, the former Brighton and Hove Albion knows any grumbles about injuries simply will not wash, with Chelsea having an expensively assembled squad that is expected to deliver results.

Potter said: "Our job now is to try and get as many people back as we can. It's been a real tough period, as challenging as it's been I would say, in my time as a coach, but we're Chelsea and people don't want to hear those reasons, excuses.

"You've got to get on with it. And we've got to try your best to find the answers."

Forest were well beaten by Manchester United on Tuesday, going down 3-0 at Old Trafford, but they scored a home win against Liverpool in October, with Jurgen Klopp's team guilty of missing a host of chances that day.

Potter said: "Forest got a fantastic result against Liverpool. I have huge respect for Steve Cooper and the job that he's done there.

"He's tremendous, a fantastic coach. So they'll be ready, the atmosphere will be hostile. They're back in the Premier League for the first year for a long, long time.

"So every game, especially Chelsea coming to town, is a big game for them. So they'll be motivated, and they'll have the quality and they'll be fighting for the points. So we have to be ready."

Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech were absent as Chelsea beat Bournemouth 2-0 on Tuesday, but both have since returned from World Cup duty.

Chelsea have beaten Forest in their last seven meetings, the last of which was a 2-0 FA Cup third-round win in January 2020, and the Blues have only been beaten once in their last 11 away league games against promoted teams (W8 D2).

These two sides have made highly contrasting starts to recent calendar years, with Forest winning their opening league game in each of the past four years, albeit in the Championship each time.

Chelsea, in sharp contrast, have not mustered a win from their first league game in any of the last six calendar years (D4 L2), and last endured a longer bleak run in year-opening league games from 1929 to 1938, when they had four draws and six losses in a 10-game span.

Chelsea's 2022 included a disruptive change of ownership as the club passed out of Roman Abramovich's hands and into the control of Todd Boehly.

Potter then replaced former head coach Thomas Tuchel in September, and there are hopes a new year will bring stability as well as success.

"We want to keep improving. There's a simple answer," Potter said, when asked for his new year wishes for the team.

"We've had a challenging [time], some ups and some downs in terms of the previous year, which is normal, I think, in any football club, but we want to try and stabilise, and we want to try and improve and make our supporters happy.

"We know that before the break, the last few weeks, it wasn't nice for us. Results suffered and performances weren't where we'd like them to be. So we have to do better than that."

Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign striker David Datro Fofana from Molde on January 1, with the Blues reportedly paying £10.5million (€12m) for the Ivory Coast international.

Fofana will become Chelsea's first signing of the Graham Potter era when the January transfer window officially opens on Sunday, having agreed a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge.

A boyhood Chelsea fan, Fofana has the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of his idol Didier Drogba, who won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three EFL Cups and the Champions League across two spells with the club.

The 20-year-old – who has two senior international caps – top-scored for Molde with 15 goals last season as they regained the Norwegian Eliteserien title.

A statement released on Molde's website said: "The Ivorian forward has wreaked havoc both in Norway and on the international stage. Now David Datro Fofana is ready for a new adventure in England and the Premier League.

"Molde Football Club thanks David Datro Fofana for his efforts, and wishes him the best of luck at Chelsea!"

Chelsea were in need of attacking reinforcements after Armando Broja ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in a friendly against Aston Villa this month, an injury which is expected to keep the striker out for the rest of the season.

Potter's side made a winning return to Premier League action as Kai Havertz and Mason Mount netted in a 2-0 victory against Bournemouth on Tuesday, though they remain six points adrift of the top four.

Reece James's latest injury scare is cause for concern for Chelsea, with the club and Graham Potter having their "fingers crossed" over his prognosis.

The right-back made his first appearance since an October knee injury that ruled him out of the World Cup in Tuesday's 2-0 win over Bournemouth.

But shortly after half-time, James was forced from the field with another knee worry.

"It's the same area, so we are concerned," Potter said, as quoted by BBC Sport. "It's really too soon. He felt something there.

"We will have to find out the extent of it and keep our fingers crossed. He's been really disappointed to miss the World Cup, of course. It was a huge blow to him."

The initial injury has limited Potter's work with James at Stamford Bridge so far, but he is a big fan of the England defender.

"You could see today his quality and what he brings to the team," Potter added. "He is a world-class player. You see it from the outside, but not until you work with him do you see how good he is.

"He could play in any team in the world, and any team would miss him. The plan was to play 60 minutes today, so now he's disappointed, of course. We hope it's not as bad as it was and he can have a speedy recovery."