Chelsea manager Graham Potter has said that he and his family have received death threats during his tricky spell at Stamford Bridge.

The 47-year-old got off to a dream start to life in West London after being appointed Thomas Tuchel's successor, going unbeaten in his first nine games in charge of the club.

However, Chelsea's fortunes have since taken a nosedive with just three wins to boast from their last 16 matches in all competitions, including zero victories from their last five.

The Blues suffered an embarrassing 1-0 loss to basement side Southampton last weekend, and defeat by the same scoreline against Borussia Dortmund has left them on the brink of a last-16 exit from the Champions League.

Potter's job security has understandably been called into question over the past few weeks, with some sections of the Chelsea fanbase calling on the board to give the Englishman the boot.

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However, Todd Boehly still has faith in Potter to turn his side's fortunes around, and he has now opened up on the torrid abuse that he and his family have received amid the Blues' struggles.

"As much as I've had support I've had some not very nice emails that have come through that want me to die and want my kids to die, so obviously that's not pleasant to receive," Potter told Sky Sports News.

"You just have to put it aside, and thankfully it's an isolated incident and it could come from anywhere. It's just one of those things.

"Not really [it hasn't rocked me]. It's just a throwaway line, I think. I don't give it any more weight than that. It's not pleasant and it's not pleasant for the family. You accept the criticism, you accept to be booed if you lose a game, you accept whatever comes your way absolutely.

"Of course there's a line but I wouldn't be the first person in life where the line's been crossed and maybe in this instance it has been crossed."

Earlier on Friday, Potter told a press conference that his life had been "fairly average" as a torrent of abuse comes his way for his side's poor performances, adding: "If you go to work and somebody's swearing abuse at you, it's not going to be pleasant.

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"You can answer it two ways. I could say I don't care, but you know I'm lying. Everyone cares what people think, because we're hardwired to be socially connected.

"Ask my family how life has been for me and for them. It's been not pleasant at all. I understand supporters go home and they're annoyed because the team aren't winning but, I assure you, my life for the last three, four months has been fairly average, apart from the fact I'm really grateful for this experience."

Potter has a record of nine wins, seven draws and nine defeats to show from his 25 games in charge of Chelsea, although some members of the board reportedly do not hold as much faith in the ex-Brighton & Hove Albion boss as Boehly does.

Former Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino was reportedly contacted about the manager's job, but the Argentine turned down the approach and is now said to be gunning for the West Ham United job.

Chelsea return to action for a London derby against Tottenham on Sunday afternoon, although victory will not move them any higher than their current 10th-placed standing in the Premier League table.