'I've tried to explain many times': Potter details why he constantly changes Chelsea's starting XI

A portion of Chelsea fans believes the club's poor form this season is down to Graham Potter's constant changes in the starting lineup. The Englishman has explained the reasoning behind this.

"I've tried to explain many times about long-term injuries, players are just not able to play three games in a week [after them]. I have a duty of care to them, and to their welfare, to make sure they're not on the pitch and risking injury," the manager said in an interview with the club's official website.

"The fact there was a third game in a week [after Dortmund] made it difficult to keep picking the same starting eleven. We played in Dortmund on a Wednesday, returned at 4am then played a Premier League game on a Saturday.

"If Reece James injures himself because of an overload issue because he hasn't had time to recover or play three games in a week that is on me. Obviously, I take the consequences which are we change the team."

"There was one change to the Dortmund game, which was Raheem in for Misha [Mudryk]. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, for example, Thiago Silva and Reece James were unable to play against Southampton. That is just where we're at."