Potter: Chelsea are suffering but it's important to stick together
Chelsea manager Graham Potter says Joao Felix's red card in his debut changed the game against Fulham.
suffered a 2-1 defeat against Fulham in the Premier League on Thursday.
who recently joined Chelsea on a loan deal started the game but was sent off by the referee for a studs-up challenge on Kenny Tete in the second half. He is the first Chelsea player to be sent off on his Premier League debut.
"It was a forwards' tackle. There was no malice in it but I understand why it was a red,"
Potter told BT Sport.
"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.”
Chelsea has lost seven times in their last ten games and is in tenth place in the table.
"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 has just 25 points after 18 matches which is their fewest at this stage since the 2015-16 season. After another defeat in a London derby, the pressure increases on Graham Potter who replaced Thomas Tuchel in September.
"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."
"We are suffering at the moment. We're suffering, the fans are suffering. We feel for them.
It's important to stick together and try to get through this tough period."
scored the first goal for Fulham against his former side Chelsea. He is the 26th player to score against Chelsea in the Premier League after previously playing for them.
"I had an amazing seven years at Chelsea,"
said Willian.
"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."
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