Graham Potter Reveals Why He Lost His First Game As Chelsea Manager Against His Former Club Brighton.

Graham Potter loses his first game as Chelsea manager following his return against his former club Brighton at the Amex stadium in Saturday afternoon.

Potter who left Brighton in September to take over Chelsea after the sacking of Thomas Tuchel, had been undefeated in nine games across all competitions. 

He had won six games and three draws from his nine fixtures at Stamford Bridge and was looking to inflict further pain on a Brighton side.

Coming into the tie, the Seagulls have only managed to secure just two points from a possible 15 since Potter's departure as manager seven weeks ago.

Unfortunately for Potter, he saw his team get blown away in the first half as the hosts led 3-0 by the break.

Leandro Trossard opened the scoring to put Brighton ahead in the fifth minute, before a traumatic two own goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the 14th minute, and Trevoh Chalobah in the 42nd minute extended the lead for the host.

Although Chelsea returned for the second half with a positive reply as Kai Havertz pulled one back in the 48th minute through a wonderful, sweeping cross from Conor Gallagher which Harvertz nodded home.

By then, Potter was already facing mocking taunts of "You're getting sacked in the morning" from the jubilant Brighton supporters.

Pascal Gross restored Brighton’s three-goal lead, by adding a fourth goal in injury time (90+2 minute) grabbing all three points for the Seagulls.

It was Brighton's first win under new head coach Roberto De Zerbi and their first victory over Chelsea since 1933.

The result sends Brighton into seventh with 18 points, while it ended Potter’s nine-game unbeaten run for the Blues. However, Chelsea stay in fifth ahead of other remaining games this weekend.

Potter, speaking after the game, said: “Yes of course the scoreline and the defeat is a painful one. We didn’t really recover.

“Once the crowd were so engaged, it was a difficult one for us. The scoreline was painful. Brighton played a good game, especially in the first half.

“You can always look at goals and think you can do better. We have to take responsibility a bit in the first half. We have had a lot of football, but that’s no excuse. We couldn’t quite get to that level. We didn’t take our opportunities in attack and they did.

“We had some opportunities to attack them too but unfortunately we missed the pass or didn’t execute, then the scoreline was a painful one. When you lose you can always do better.”

On the chants and boos aimed at Potter both before and after the game by the home fans,  the English manager insisted he does not owe Brighton fans any apologies;

“I have nothing to apologise or say sorry for. I think I did a good job at the club and left it in a good place but people are entitled to their opinions.

“It’s part of the process. You have to suffer and feel pain in order to grow and get better. Nobody said we were the finished article. We have to take the pain today and learn from it.”