Amidst heavy calling for his axing, Graham Potter has found an unexpected backer in Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola. Potter and his Chelsea were knocked out of the FA Cup third round by Guardiola’s dominant City, who rammed over the Blues with a 4-0 win. Chelsea were evidently looking toothless in attack and clueless in defense as they struggled to create anything and headed home, knocked out of a second cup competition after the same opponents had eliminated them from the League Cup as well this season.
Potter is feeling the heat of both the fans, who were chanting former manager Thomas Tuchel’s name in the away end at the Etihad, and the owners, Todd Boehly and consortium after string of poor results. The former Brighton man seemed a promising personality to lead Chelsea in the new era under the new owners, after winning six of his first nine games in charge at the club. However, like an Icarus arc, the last nine games have been dreadful for Graham Potter, where he has lost six times.
‘I didn’t need two seasons because I had Messi’ – Pep Guardiola explains why Chelsea should back Graham Potter
Graham Potter enjoyed a brilliant start to his Chelsea stint after being trusted out of the blue by the new owners of the West London outfit. The Todd Boehly led consortium made a statement at the club during the summer transfer, spending close to €300m over 8 new signings including the €80m Wesley Fofana, their costliest buy, and the likes of star players in Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
A month later, they made another statement by appointing Graham Potter on a long term contract of five year following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel. The club expressed its desire to build a project for almost the decade to come, with a mix of experienced, established players and young talents, spearheaded by a manager who has got his foundations built solid. And looking at the wonders he had worked at Brighton, Potter fitted the profile.
However, the vision of the club’s owners seems to have backfired, as Potter is looking a bit lost as each game passes. He went unbeaten for the first nine games, where his team kept five clean sheets and collected six wins and three draws, and it appeared as if the club is on the path it desired to be on. However, it has come down trembling with the Blues sitting 10th in the Premier League table, out of the domestic cup competitions and lost six times in last nine games.
But the Englishman has asked for more time at Stamford Bridge, urging the fans, who chanted Tuchel’s name during the City drubbing. His colleague and competitor Guardiola, on being asked whether Potter was justified for asking more time, the City boss said:
“He’s right, he’s right. I would say to Todd Boehly, give him time. I know in big clubs, results are important but I’d say give him time. The second half is what he is. What he’s done at Brighton is outstanding, but…we need time in the first season. In Barcelona I didn’t need two seasons because I had [Lionel] Messi there.”
Well its true Graham Potter has no Messi at Chelsea, and that he is also yet to be supplied with a star signing besides Monaco defender Benoit Badiashile, who was recently acquired for €38m. As far now, there hasn’t been any talk within the Chelsea boardroom of sacking Potter. He was signed on a five year contract and it would just be impulsive of axing him even before completing five months at the club. And besides that, Potter will certainly find some solace in Guardiola’s words now.