LONDON – Chelsea manager Graham Potter and his family have received anonymous death threats following the Premier League club’s poor run of results, he told reporters on Friday.

The Blues are 10th in the table with two wins in their last 14 games and have scored only once at home in 2023.

“As much as I’ve had support, I’ve had some not very nice e-mails that have come through that want me to die and want my kids to die, so obviously that’s not pleasant to receive,” said the 47-year-old ahead of Sunday’s trip to Tottenham.

Since Potter took the job in September after the sacking of Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea have won just nine of their 25 games, but he has always insisted that he has the backing of club owner Todd Boehly.

“I want to succeed here. There is this nonsense that I don’t care. Where does that come from? Where’s your evidence on that?” he added of the abuse that he has been getting.

“If you go to work and somebody’s swearing at you, it’s not going to be pleasant. I could say I don’t care, but you know I’m lying. Everyone cares what people think.”

The Chelsea boss said life had been difficult over the past few months as he tried to fashion a winning team, with Chelsea 11 points adrift of fourth-placed Spurs albeit with a game in hand.

“Ask my family how life has been for me and for them. It’s been not pleasant at all,” he added.

“Thankfully it’s (the death threats) an isolated incident. It’s just one of those things.”

While Potter said that “a line had been crossed”, he admitted that Chelsea fans have every right to voice their criticism as long as they do not go overboard – especially since the club spent around £300 million (S$484 million) in the January transfer window but have not seen the results.

“Supporters, rightly so, are upset because we lost at home to Southampton (last weekend). Supporters care, when they are upset they let their feelings be known and we accept that,” he said.

“The solution is that you have to win football matches.”

Chelsea have struggled to score goals in recent weeks, finding the net just once in their last five games in all competitions, while Tottenham have three clean sheets in their last four league games.

Potter also said he will be able to call upon most of his squad, except for N’Golo Kante and Christian Pulisic, who “are joining the warm-ups and will be more integrated next week”.

For Spurs, assistant manager Cristian Stellini said that his boss Antonio Conte is “very close” to fully returning to work, but is not expected to be at the match.

Conte is recovering from gallbladder surgery in Italy after doctors told him to rest again following complications.

Tottenham lost all four meetings with Chelsea last season, including a two-legged League Cup semi-final.

“We are happy because if we compare our team to last January, now we are better, but we have to continue to work,” said Stellini.

“Last season we struggle too much against Chelsea and we hope this season that can change.”

Spurs remain without Hugo Lloris, Ryan Sessegnon, Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur. REUTERS, AFP