Graham Potter 'takes Chelsea stars to meet SOLDIERS' in bid to build team spirit

Chelsea boss Graham Potter has 'taken his players on a novel team-building trip to meet soldiers at an Army base'.

It comes after a shaky run of form for the Blues that has seen them drop to 10th in the table after winning just once in their past five league games.

Poor results have not stopped them from signing players, though, with the likes of Mykhailo Mudryk, Benoit Badiashile and Joao Felix arriving in a January window that has already seen them spend close to £190 million.

According to reports in the Sun, Potter has taken his side to Bordon and Longmoor Military Camp near Liss, a small town in Hampshire, to build 'togetherness' within the squad and help new signings settle.

The players reportedly took part in a series of 'mental exercises' that were designed to make them think and work together as a team.

It comes in a rare week off for the Blues, as their defeat to Manchester City in the third round of the FA Cup means they will not be in action until Friday.

Potter was keen to stress his squad would be making the most of their break from competitive football last week, as he said: 'There will be an element of team bonding.

'We need to try to bring the group together. There are a few new faces, we've got a bit of window now. It's not just about the grass, it's about how you interact as a team and as a group.

'There are some things we can do, and we will use the two weeks to try to do that as best as we can.

'We have a window to do it, and with a lot of players here, we need to build some togetherness, some understanding, and we have to be creative with how we do it.'

Chelsea will next be in action when they face Fulham, who beat them 2-1 in the reverse fixture earlier this month, at Stamford Bridge on Friday.