Graham Potter could reportedly face the sack if Chelsea fail to win their next two games against Leeds United and Borussia Dortmund.
After just over three years in charge at Brighton & Hove Albion, the 47-year-old was hired by American co-owner Todd Boehly to take the reins at Stamford Bridge following the dismissal of Thomas Tuchel in September last year.
Potter made a solid start in the Chelsea hotseat, winning six and drawing three of his first nine matches across all tournaments.
However, the Englishman has since won just three of his last 17 games in charge, a miserable run dating back to the end of October, with the Blues failing to win any of their last six fixtures and scoring only once in the process.
Chelsea's last three games have all ended in defeat without replay, with successive 1-0 losses against Borussia Dortmund and Southampton followed by last weekend's 2-0 defeat away against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur – their ninth loss in the Premier League this season.
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The Blues are already out of both domestic cup competitions and they are also at risk of failing to reach the Champions League quarter-finals, while they are currently languishing in 10th spot in the Premier League table, 14 points behind fourth-placed Spurs with a game in hand.
Recent reports have suggested that Chelsea's hierarchy are prepared to give Potter more time to turn the club's fortunes around and allow the plethora of big-money signings to gel under his tutelage in the first team.
However, according to The Telegraph, Potter now faces two 'make-or-break' games against Leeds and Dortmund to save his job as Chelsea head coach.
On Saturday, the Blues will play host to relegation-threatened Leeds, who made the perfect start under new boss Javi Gracia by beating Southampton 1-0 at Elland Road last weekend.
Chelsea are then scheduled to face Dortmund at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie three days later, with the Blues currently trailing by one goal and seeking to avoid their fifth last-16 elimination in the last seven years.
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Speaking to Sky Sports about his future after the defeat at Spurs, Potter said: "If results aren't good enough, which they aren't at the moment, you can't rely on support forever, that's for sure.
"My job is to keep going, to keep working with the team and try and change that. The players are hurting. They are giving everything and want the results to get better, I can feel it in the dressing room."
The Blues boss added: "Whenever you hear those results [stats], I hold the responsibility. They are not good enough for this club, not good enough for us. We are not happy with them.
"We have to understand the moment we are in. At the same time, I take full responsibility for those results. It isn't good enough for Chelsea, that's for sure. We want to try and improve it.
"I thought the players gave it everything, no complaints from how they were, it's just that the goal changes the complexion of the game and that made it difficult for us."
Former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is currently the bookmakers' favourite to replace Potter as Chelsea manager, but the Argentine is understood to have turned down the chance to take over at Stamford Bridge.
Oliver Thomas
