Cesar Azpilicueta is responsive after being stretchered off following a head injury in Chelsea s 1-0 home defeat to Southampton, boss Graham Potter has revealed.
The defender took a boot to the face from Sekou Mara while defending a corner at Stamford Bridge, with a lengthy stoppage in play while he was attended to by medics.
The Blues captain was subsequently taken from the field and to hospital, as the hosts failed to find a response to James Ward-Prowse s first-half free-kick.
Potter offered an update on Azpilicueta s status after the game, revealing the 33-year-old is in medical care and able to hold a conversation.
He is in hospital, he said. He is conscious and speaking to his wife. Hopefully, he is in the best place.
We are monitoring him. He needs to take all the precautions we need to take now.
Full-time.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)
Defeat marked a fourth game without victory in the Premier League for Chelsea, who remain firmly mired in mid-table despite a raft of expensive transfers last month.
Potter acknowledged the blame is his to shoulder for now, adding: It was below par in the first half. I take as much responsibility as anyone in that.
I thought we deserved a goal in the second half. When you don t score, it is obviously difficult. After a 1-0 defeat at home, any criticism you get is understandable.
We ve had a lot of injuries [and] challenges integrating players. A lot of people will say I m the problem, and I m not saying that their opinion is not worth articulating. My job is to work.
