Graham Potter has revealed he and his family have received vile death threats as a result of Chelsea’s miserable form. The Chelsea gaffer on Friday that he has been a target of vicious abuse wishing him and his family dead because of the Blues’ poor form.

The struggling Blues boss added that he has been the victim of sickening emails from trolls. Tenth-placed Chelsea head to Spurs on Sunday on a run of just two wins in 14 Premier League games.

But the 47-year-old has declared that he has received anonymous death threats which have also referenced his children.

He said, “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. The challenge for me is, ‘OK, how do I conduct myself?’ That’s what I always turn round to.”

Potter says he is not going to quit because of the threats.

The manager said, “I’ve had some not particularly nice emails come through that want me to die and want my kids to die. That’s obviously not pleasant to receive. If you go to work and somebody is swearing abuse at you it’s not going to be pleasant, if you’re referred to as the worst person in the history of the club.”

Despite the trolls, he did not look scared, instead he vowed to keep trying hard until the results change.

“You can say, ‘Oh, I don’t care’ but you know I’m lying because everyone does care what people think because we are hardwired to be socially connected. The higher you go, the more pressure you have on how you are as a person. I want to succeed here. There is this nonsense that I don’t care. Where does that come from? Where’s your evidence on that? If you go to work and somebody’s swearing abuse at you, it’s not going to be pleasant. 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.”

He took responsibility for the poor run of results.

“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 that I’m really grateful for this experience.”

Speaking to Sky Sports about the threats, Potter remarked, “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. 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.”

BBC Sport have reported that Chelsea are offering their full support to Potter and his family.

“And I want to succeed here so it’s nonsense this notion that I don’t care. And I would ask you to ask my family how life has been for me and for them. It has not been pleasant at all. I understand that supporters go home and they are really annoyed because their team is not winning.

Chelsea are offering Potter full support over the vile abuse and security around the boss may also be stepped up. The ex-Brighton chief confided in West Ham manager David Moyes after the recent 1-1 draw between their two clubs.

But Potter admitted, “Life is tough for lots of people – and nobody cares about a Premier League manager. Sometimes life isn’t fair and I understand it. I spoke with David Moyes about it.”

Potter was given funds to sign eight new players at a total cost of £286.8 million ($300 million) in January but Chelsea have scored only one goal in the last four matches.

Potter added: “We had a sub-optimal pre-season and our experienced guys thought it was the worst they’d ever had. Then there was a manager change, old players left, new players came in. We had an unprecedented injury situation in that period. This is the toughest job in football.”

• BBC / The Sun reports