Graham Potter has taken responsibility for Chelsea's struggles and intends to "ride out any storm" after the 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge to Manchester City.
A sixth defeat of the campaign leaves Chelsea 10 points behind fourth place, with the Blues as close to the relegation zone as they are to the Champions League spots.
The loss also hands Potter's side a grim record in the past eight games, with just one victory and four losses, totalling just six points from a possible 24.
Potter has had his fair share of bad injury luck, losing Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic early against Pep Guardiola's side on top of a training session blow for Mason Mount, but he is not using the packed treatment room as an excuse.
"When you consider everything, in terms of losing Raheem really early and Christian as well, the lads gave everything," Potter told Sky Sports. "It was a spirited performance, we had some opportunities against a top team. Apart from the result – you never like to lose – I'm proud of the players in terms of everything they gave.
"It's tough at the moment, I must admit, and I feel for the boys. We have to stick together. It was disappointing to lose the guys, but the players that came in, the players that were on the pitch, gave everything and that's all you can ask for."
Chelsea's injury list is preventing them reaching their potential, but Potter said: "We can't complain about it. We have to just get on with it.
"The boys that were on the pitch gave everything, and they did what we asked them to do. There was some spirit and some quality and some opportunities. Manchester City don't give you much, but I thought we earned something from the game, but it is what it is.
"You always have to take your responsibility, and when you're not playing well you want to improve that. But you hope people look at the whole context and see where we are and what we have had to deal with, but at the same time emotions are high, that's how it is, you have to try and ride out any storm and try to stay level."
Chelsea go again against City in the FA Cup on Sunday, then facing four London derbies in their next five Premier League matches – with the exception being a clash against Liverpool.
Bayer Leverkusen's Puerta sets sights on Copa America
Gustavo Puerta's first season with Bayer Leverkusen could not have gone any better and the 20-year-old midfielder hopes his experience with the undefeated German side will earn him a place in Colombia's Copa America squad this summer.
Puerta has made eight appearances this season for Bundesliga champions Leverkusen, who are unbeaten in 46 matches across all competitions under Xabi Alonso.
Leverkusen will play Roma in the Europa League semi-finals and are also through to the DFB-Pokal final.
"This year has been wonderful for me and for my career, I hope to keep winning titles and get minutes at the end of the tournament," Puerta, who has made five Bundesliga appearances, told Reuters.
Puerta enjoyed success with Colombia's under-20 side and has received his first call-up for the national team's friendlies against Spain and Romania in March.
He hopes to make an impression on coach Nestor Lorenzo with the Copa America on the horizon. The tournament takes place in the United States across June and July.
"Being in this team with an undefeated run is very important to be considered for the national team if the coach (Lorenzo) thinks I can contribute," he added.
"We haven't talked much about it, but he told me that he's keeping an eye on me, that he wants to see me play. I hope to get minutes in the end because it is a privilege to be in the national team, I want to wait for the call-up."
The Colombian added that playing for one of the top 10 teams in the world has not only improved his game but also given him confidence in his abilities.
"It helps you mature, spending time with great world-class players on a daily basis and training with them is important, they are very experienced and that makes a difference for someone as young as me," he added.
Puerta said he felt supported by the club and that he would be able to reach his full potential under Alonso.
"It was historic, very nice, very crazy to have won my first title in one of the top five leagues in Europe," he added.
Al-Khaleej 0-1 Al-Nassr: Ronaldo misfires on return as Laporte nets winner
Cristiano Ronaldo returned from suspension but failed to find the net as Al-Nassr secured a 1-0 win over Al-Khaleej on Saturday, with Aymeric Laporte coming up with the decisive goal.
Ronaldo was in action for the first time since being sent off for an elbow in a 2-1 Saudi Super Cup loss to Al-Hilal earlier this month, with his initial two-match ban being reduced to one on appeal.
He missed three good chances as Al-Nassr threatened to fall further behind runaway Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal, but former Manchester City defender Laporte spared his blushes by nodding Marcelo Brozovic's deep free-kick into the bottom-left corner with 68 minutes gone.
Al-Nassr remain nine points adrift of Al-Hilal at the summit in spite of their win, with Jorge Jesus' team unbeaten through 28 games this season as they close in on a record-extending 18th title.
Data Debrief: Ronaldo misfires on return
Ronaldo was presented with the Saudi Pro League's Player of the Month award for March ahead of kick-off, having scored four goals in three league appearances last month.
However, his sights were off on Saturday as he failed to net despite three of the visitors' four big chances, as defined by Opta, falling his way. He led all players on the pitch for expected goals (1.27 xG), shots (five), shots on target (three) and touches in the area (nine) without reward.
Huddersfield all but relegated from Championship while League Two play-off spots decided
Huddersfield Town saw their relegation from the Championship all but confirmed after a 1-1 draw with fellow strugglers Birmingham City on Saturday.
The Terriers avoided a defeat that would have seen them relegated on Saturday, but even a win on the final day over promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town will not be enough unless they overcome a huge goal difference of 15 goals with Plymouth Argyle.
Birmingham remain in the other relegation place and now must beat Norwich City to stand a chance of staying up with Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth and Blackburn Rovers also still in danger.
At the other end of the table, the Canaries dropped points in a 2-2 draw with Swansea City, leaving the door open for Hull City, who face Ipswich Town later today.
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