Graham Potter has claimed he has ‘nothing to apologise for’ after the Chelsea boss was booed by Brighton fans during Saturday’s game at the Amex.

Chelsea were thrashed 4-1 by the Seagulls in what was Potter’s first defeat since taking over as Blues boss last month.

Goals from Leandro Trossard and Pascal Gross, along with two own goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Trevoh Chalobah condemnded the visitors to the loss, with Kai Havertz hitting one back for the Blues.

Potter managed Brighton for just over three years after arriving in May 2019, leading the Seagulls to 15th, 16th and 9th during his tenure – last season’s 9th placed finish was the club’s highest-ever in the top flight.

Speaking after the game which marked his return to his former club, the Chelsea boss hit back when asked whether the negative reception he received from the home fans was justified.

Potter said: ‘I have nothing to apologise or say sorry for. I think I did a good job at the club and left it in a good place but people are entitled to their opinions.

‘It’s part of the process. You have to suffer and feel pain in order to grow and get better. Nobody said we were the finished article. We have to take the pain today and learn from it.’

Potter also claimed the result was hard to take and believed Chelsea didn’t do themselves justice on the south coast.

He added: ‘Of course the scoreline and the defeat is a painful one. We didn’t really recover.

‘Once the crowd were so engaged it was a difficult one for us. The scorelline was painful. Brighton played a good game, especially in the first half.

‘You can always look at goals and think you can do better. We have to take responsibility a bit in the first half.

‘We have had a lot of football but that’s no excuse. We couldn’t quite get to that level. We didn’t take our opportunities in attack and they did.

‘Then the scoreline was a painful one. When you lose you can always do better.’

However, despite defeat, he was full of praise for his former team and their fans.

He said:  ‘They played well, the atmosphere was really intense here. We didn’t necessarily match that level of intensity.

‘Brighton were dangerous. We were pushing and pushing and throwing players on, but Brighton deserved it. You have to say congratulations to them.

‘Brighton were better at what they did, so we have to take that as a lesson – even though that’s a painful one for us.

‘The intensity (from Brighton) was there and we suffered a little bit. The players are an honest bunch – we win and lose together – so we have to take stock and move forward.’

The victory was the first for Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi since replacing Potter and the Italian was delighted to get the three points which moves his side up to eighth.

‘I am very happy for the players, for the club and the people working with our team and these great fans,’ he said post-match.

‘They were the best player on the pitch. They helped us a lot and I am very happy.

‘In the first 20-25 minutes we were fantastic. We played like men. We prepared the team with one-to-ones. All players were fantastic.

‘I am sorry for the Chelsea goal because in the second half we suffered a stupid goal and made a mistake.

‘They changed their tactical position and we weren’t ready to change something for us. But I’m happy because 4-1 against Chelsea is an amazing result.’