Chelsea manager Graham Potter said he was proud of his players for their performance in the 1-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City on Thursday night and urged everyone to stick together to "ride out the storm" after another damaging setback.
Riyad Mahrez condemned Chelsea to a fourth defeat in their past six league games with his 63rd-minute goal, leaving the Blues 10th in the table and 10 points behind fourth-placed Manchester United in the last of the Champions League spots.
City, meanwhile, claimed a crucial victory to their hopes of chasing down leaders Arsenal and have reduced the gap to five points.
Chelsea were much the better side in the first half at Stamford Bridge and Carney Chukwuemeka came close to breaking the deadlock when he hit the post shortly before the break. But as City improved after the interval, familiar problems resurfaced for the hosts, who struggled to create chances and regain a foothold in the match.
"The lads gave everything, it was spirited and we had some opportunities against a top team," Potter said.
"I liked what we tried to do against a top side. We were competitive and had spirit on the pitch, courage in attack and took responsibility at the back. Apart from the result, as we hate to lose, I’m proud of the players."
Worryingly for Chelsea in their hopes of arresting their slump is the mounting injury list. Former City forward Raheem Sterling was forced off with an apparent hamstring issue early in the game, before American winger Christian Pulisic followed.
N'Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Edouard Mendy, Armando Broja, Mason Mount, Ben Chilwell, Reece James, and Wesley Fofana are all absent with various injury problems.
Chelsea v Man City player ratings
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CHELSEA RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga - 6: Dealt with varying crosses from Joao Cancelo and Ilkay Gundogan. A poor throw made things difficult for his team but he soon saved a strong shot from Kevin De Bruyne. Could possibly have done more to reach Jack Grealish’s cross for the goal. AP -
Cesar Azpilicueta - 6: Did a lot of good work to nullify Phil Foden’s threat, including a tackle on the winger near his own box, and also blocked Kevin De Bruyne’s shot well. However, he wasn’t able to stop Grealish getting his cross in for the goal. AFP -
Thiago Silva - 7: Was composed in possession and when called on defensively, while he headed away crosses from Gundogan and Bernardo Silva authoritatively. His shot went agonisingly wide. AFP -
Kalidou Koulibaly - 8: While his unorthodox intervention fortuitously went back to Kepa, Koulibaly often looked solid as he stepped out to stop Cancelo’s run, challenged De Bruyne as he threatened to break through and blocked shots from Cancelo and Bernardo Silva. Booked for blocking off Mahrez. AFP -
Marc Cucurella - 5: Had a great battle with Cancelo and came out of it well, notably tackling the Portuguese in his own box. However, he struggled in the second period and lost Riyad Mahrez for the goal. AFP -
Hakim Ziyech - 6: Showed good intent at times, although his crosses were often dealt with and he played a poor pass to Azpilicueta when there was a chance to break. Reuters -
Denis Zakaria - 7: Moved the ball forward well on various occasions and also helped his team out defensively. Put in a great tackle on Grealish to stop him running through. AP -
Mateo Kovacic - 6: Carried the ball well at times and also defended impressively in the first half, notably putting in a good tackle on Cancelo. Did well to dispossess Silva in his own box but hit a wild shot comfortably over the crossbar, then played a wasteful pass when there was the opportunity to break. Booked for cynically fouling Grealish. AFP -
Raheem Sterling - 5: Was forced off after picking up an injury two minutes into proceedings against his former club. AFP -
Kai Havertz - 6: Took up intelligent positions to help his midfield and also did well to pick out Carney Chukwuemeka. However, there were also times where he could have taken a risk to really challenge City’s defence. Poor touch let him down when the ball fell to him in the box and his header went straight at Ederson. Getty -
Christian Pulisic - 6: Looked bright and took up good positions, while he also challenged Bernardo Silva after Cucurella had conceded possession before his game ended prematurely due to injury. Getty -
SUBS: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Sterling, 6’) - 5: Was able to get into some good positions but lacked a clinical edge, especially when Ziyech delivered a threatening cross. Conceded possession to Erling Haaland early in the second half and struggled to have an impact after that. Getty -
Carney Chukwuemeka (Pulisic, 22’) - 7: Slotted in straight away and took up a good position before seeing his shot blocked by Silva, while another effort struck the post. Made a great burst forward and pass to set up Lewis Hall’s chance. Reuters -
Omari Hutchinson (Aubameyang, 68’) - 5: His decent header set up a chance for Havertz, but he often played safe and then overhit a cross from a promising position. AFP -
Lewis Hall (Cucurella, 68’) - 6: Showed good anticipation to cut out Ederson’s throw and get one of many dangerous crosses into the box, also playing some nice passes to find players in promising positions. Fired his shot off target. Reuters -
Conor Gallagher (Ziyech, 69’) - 7: Showed plenty of drive as he tried to lift Chelsea and get them back into the game, even if he took things a step too far at times. Reuters -
MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 6: His superb throw released De Bruyne for a break forward, but he was very lucky that Manuel Akanji dealt with the situation calmly after he’d flown out of his goal. Getty -
Joao Cancelo - 7: Often defended well and showed plenty of intent going forward, delivering crosses and playing an intelligent pass to Gundogan. AFP -
Kyle Walker - 6: Was involved in a mix-up for Pulisic’s chance and threw the ball to Havertz, but also nearly found De Bruyne with a great pass and got a vital touch on Chukwuemeka’s shot to turn it on to the post. Getty -
John Stones - 9: Put in a superb defensive performance, standing up well when Aubameyang threatened to run behind, making a superb tackle on Pulisic and showing composure when Chukwuemeka’s shot came back off the post, as well as touching the ball away following a poor pass from Manuel Akanji. AFP -
Nathan Ake - 7: Put in some good challenges but there were also times where Chelsea were able to progress up the pitch and get behind him in the first half. Made a good tackle on Ziyech to keep the pressure on, then hit the woodwork with a header. Reuters -
Bernardo Silva - 7: Was both busy and composed, delivering some very threatening crosses and doing well to block Chukwuemeka’s shot. EPA -
Rodri - 6: Found things difficult at times as he went between defence and midfield, but he still had some good moments, notably putting in a good tackle to halt Zakaria. Overhit his pass when there was the opportunity to counter. Reuters -
Ilkay Gundogan - 7: Took up some brilliant positions and moved the ball well, notably finding Haaland for the striker’s first chance of the game. Reuters -
Kevin De Bruyne - 7: It took him a while to get going, but the Belgian got into some good positions to let off shots, with one being blocked, another going wide and another being saved by Kepa. Came agonisingly close to setting up Haaland. Reuters -
Erling Haaland - 6: Made some great defensive headers but things didn’t quite go his way in the other box, as he missed the target from a couple of opportunities and couldn’t quite turn De Bruyne’s cross into the net. PA -
Phil Foden - 5: A poor touch let him down when Kovacic conceded possession and he often struggled to get past Azpilicueta’s resolute defending. Reuters -
SUBS: Manuel Akanji (Cancelo, HT) - 7: While a loose pass almost put his team in trouble, the defender cut out Ziyech’s pass well and did brilliantly to sort the situation when Ederson raced out of his goal. AFP -
Rico Lewis (Walker, HT) - 7: Immediately got on the ball and showed plenty of confidence to do things throughout. Also put pressure on Hall when he took his shot. PA -
Riyad Mahrez (Silva, 60’) - 8: Ghosted in and turned the ball into the net having already made things difficult for Cucurella. Showed intelligence in his play after that. Getty -
Jack Grealish (Foden, 60’) - 8: Delivered an absolute peach of a pass to set up Mahrez for the opener and helped his team out defensively, clearing Hall’s cross then making a burst forward to win a free-kick moments later. EPA -
Kalvin Phillips (Rodri, 86’) – N/R: Successfully broke up Chelsea’s play but also struggled to maintain possession himself. Reuters
"It is tough at the moment and certainly doesn’t make it any easier. I feel for the boys of course as it’s one of those times but we have to stick together," Potter said about Chelsea's injury crisis.
"It was disappointing to lose the guys early on but the players that came onto the pitch gave everything and that’s all you can ask for.
"It’s too soon for an update. Raheem was with his first action of the game with a back-heel and Christian had some contact on his knee so fingers crossed it’s not too bad."
On England midfielder Mount's late withdrawal, Potter said: "Mason Mount also had a kick yesterday in training, he’ll hopefully be OK for the weekend. I’ve never experienced anything like it but we just have to carry on."
Potter admitted that Chelsea's form and current position in the table are major causes for concern but said the squad and fans need to stay united as the team looks to reverse their fortunes.
"You have to take responsibility when we’re not playing well but at the same time you hope people look at the whole context in terms of what we’ve had to deal with," he said.
"Emotions are high. We’ll try to ride out the storm and I think the crowd appreciated the performance and were behind the team tonight. Our supporters were fantastic and got behind the team in a great way."
