Potter is running out of time to save his Chelsea job

Graham Potter won the hearts of football neutrals

January 17, 2023 FootballZz

Potter is running out of time to save his Chelsea job

Graham Potter won the hearts of football neutrals when he was a manager at Brighton & Hove Albion, improving players at his disposal and playing a brand of football that unnerved the best of teams in the Premier League, with their home stadium a very difficult venue for opposition teams. The Englishman had gone the hard route of establishing himself as one of the finest tacticians in the game, and it felt as though it was only a matter of time before the top teams in England and even around Europe would come calling.

That opportunity came back in September when Chelsea terminated the contract of the charismatic Thomas Tuchel in the Stamford Bridge dugout after disagreements with the new owners about signings, the direction of the club as well as bad results at the beginning of the season. Chelsea hired Potter, who the new owners felt would fit into the long-term vision of the club, and play expansive football that the fans could identify with.

The Chelsea fans under the stewardship of former owner, Roman Abramovich had come to expect a certain level of success, with the Stamford Bridge expecting a trophy or two at the end of the campaign. For many of them, it would be difficult to “trust the process”, given that the club is a big club, and should always challenge for the biggest trophies on offer, regardless of the person in the dugout. It started well for Potter, with very good wins in the Premier League sandwiched with impressive consecutive wins against AC Milan in the Champions League, as part of a 5-game winning streak.

Since late October though, The Blues have really struggled for form, and many felt that the 6-week World Cup break would mean that Potter had enough time to implement his ideas and seek ways to improve his team. However, the Blues have been just as atrocious, winning just 2 in their last 10 matches, a run of form that has put immense pressure on Potter. Things culminated in the 4-0 loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup, with cross-section singing chants about Thomas Tuchel, the much-loved German manager, who was Potter’s predecessor.

The Blues hierarchy have strengthened this winter, bringing in the likes of Benoit Badiashile, Joao Felix, David Datro Fofana, and Andrey Santos, with the former two expected to feature immediately in the first team, while there are still more signings expected to arrive. The owners have given him a vote of confidence, but football is a very unforgiving sport, that doesn’t leave room for second chances.

Potterball needs to hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge. The whole world is waiting.