Chelsea are the THIRD best team in West London and there are no signs of things getting better after Man City loss
THEY are loving the Premier League in this particular corner of the capital, but down the road at both Fulham and Brentford.
Unbelievably, Chelsea are currently the third best side in West London and there are no great signs of things getting much better.
Graham Potter’s difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge continues to unravel, even though it is not all his fault.
Defeat to Manchester City was not exactly a massive surprise.
But a run of just one Premier League win in eight is rightly beginning to cause panic at Stamford Bridge even though, throughout this game, the crowd remained firmly behind the team and beleaguered Potter.
Despite some encouraging performances in difficult circumstances, this was still a bad night for Potter, not helped by a total lack of concentration from keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga which led to Riyad Mahrez’s winner.
But it was also a grim evening for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who was signed by the club’s new owners to boost their attack.
A fifth-minute substitute, Aubameyang had a face like thunder when he was replaced by Chelsea kid Omari Hutchinson in the 68th minute.
What a disastrous signing he is proving to be although Arsenal fans will be having little sympathy.
Languishing 10th in the Premier League is clearly not good enough for Chelsea who can now forget a Champions League spot.
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST FOOTBALL BETTING SITES IN THE UK
Potter, though, has certainly been helped by the rotten run of injuries which only got worse here.
Chelsea were without eight players, namely N’Golo Kante, Reece James, keeper Edu Mendy, Wesley Fofana, Armando Broja, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ben Chilwell and Mason Mount.
And the evening turned into a disaster for Raheem Sterling, against his former club, as he suffered an early injury after a tackle from John Stones.
Potter was then forced to reshuffle again at the midway point of the first half when Christian Pulisic suffered an injury after a fine block from Stones with Carney Chukwuemeka impressing as his replacement.
It was the earliest a side has subbed two starters in a Premier League game since Watford did so against Crystal Palace In December 2016 (14th minute).
With City struggling due to their weird formation, Chelsea were the better team in the first half before Guardiola’s second half subs changed the game.
In one final throw of the dice, Potter gave a debut for 19-year-old midfielder Hutchinson in place of Aubameyang, while Conor Gallagher and Lewis Hall were also given run-out but ultimately, City stood firm.
The last thing Chelsea need is another game against City but they travel to the Etihad for the FA Cup on Sunday.
In many respects, this is a free pass for Potter.
However, that will not be the case for next Thursday when Chelsea travel to Craven Cottage in the Premier League.
Another Chelsea loss there and Potter will be in massive trouble.