Graham Potter makes Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang admission and suggests positivity ahead of Tottenham

Chelsea manager Graham Potter admits the atmosphere at Cobham ahead of the London derby against Tottenham is calm and positive despite recent disappointing results.

Chelsea slumped to a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Southampton at Stamford Bridge with fans turning on the English manager Graham Potter, but the board have backed him.

The Blues are languishing 10th on the league table,11 points off fourth placed Tottenham in the Premier League table.

This is a crucial week for both the club and manager with the second leg Champions League encounter with Dortmund coming up next week.

Former Brighton and Hove manager Graham Potter has only two wins in his last 15 games and face a race against time to save his job despite signing a five year deal at the club.

He also left out striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the Champions League second round squad- and since then the team has struggled to score goals.

Asked how the player has been responding to being left in the cold, the English manager says he’s been professional and fighting for his place.

He told reporters: “He is competing for a place in the squad. Good response to the situation we’ve been in. He is available for selection.

“WIth the results as they are, you accept criticism and that should come. That’s fair. The mood here has always been positive and respectful.

“That’s not to say it’s easy at all. The family suffers, mental health suffers, personality, it’s hard.”

Chelsea are without a defeat in their last eight games against Tottenham and Potter will hope that his team is able to rise to the occasion.