Chelsea: Jamie O’Hara slams Graham Potter’s post-match comments

TalkSport pundit and former Premier League footballer Jamie O’Hara has slammed Chelsea manager Graham Potter for his post-match comments following their latest defeat this past weekend.
The Lowdown: Chelsea beaten again
Chelsea suffered yet another setback as they followed up their defeat in the Champions League with a fifth game without a win in all competitions after a dismal day at Stamford Bridge.
Beaten by the Premier League’s bottom club, Southampton, Potter’s side have just one win to their name since the turn of the year and are rapidly falling out of the race to qualify for the Champions League.
This comes amid the Blues’ mega spending spree in the winter, which has failed to provide any sort of turnaround in results as sack rumours start to surround the somewhat beleaguered Potter.
The Latest: Potter comments slammed
The Chelsea manager’s comments after the weekend’s clash have drawn the ire of ex-Spurs midfielder O’Hara, who was left in disbelief by the 47-year-old’s attempts to justify his team’s latest result.
This included Potter appearing to claim that their poor start to the game was down to the changes he made following their defeat in midweek to Borussia Dortmund – but this did not wash with O’Hara.
Speaking on TalkSport, he said: “The interview done me. I couldn’t believe what he was coming out with. He’s basically making excuses for changing the team. Did you see the team that Chelsea had out? It was unbelievable.
“It’s a top football team that they’ve put together and he’s got like 30 players to choose [from] – you’re only allowed 25, but 25 of them are all top players, and he’s moaning about having to change them.
“So he’s making excuses for that, which I was like, ‘I can’t believe what he’s saying’… I know they’re new players and they’ve got to gel and you’ve got to give them time – you’ve got Enzo Fernandez, Fofana, Mason Mount, Azpilicueta, Koulibaly, Kepa, Chilwell.
“You got 500, 600 million pounds worth of players on the football pitch, and you’re moaning about having to make a couple of changes, and that’s why it’s not quite clicking? Are you winding me up?
“I can’t believe the way he interviewed. I think he still thinks he’s at Brighton. You’re at Chelsea, who have won the Champions League, fighting to win titles and are not used to losing, and he comes out and says Southampton are a tough team and well prepared.
“They’re bottom of the league with no manager. They’re in disarray. How can you say that?”
Potter in or Potter out?
Potter in

Potter out

The Verdict: Time running out for Potter at Chelsea?
It is difficult to disagree with O’Hara. Given the resources available to Potter – arguably even before spending around £300m in the January transfer window – there is surely enough quality at the club for them to be performing better than they currently are.
Let’s not forget this is a team that won the Champions League not 18 months ago, with much of that team still intact (albeit with plenty of new arrivals added in).
And while things may have been going stale under Thomas Tuchel, it is hardly a rebuilding job that Potter has had to undertake. The existing players and those brought in last month are predominantly of high quality, with the squad already full of internationals before being joined by a World Cup winner and a La Liga champion to name a few.
The reality is that the Blues are on a run of two wins in 14. Given the turnaround of managers in recent history at Chelsea, it is hardly surprising there is doubt hanging over Potter’s future, even with different owners in charge these days.
We feel Potter’s comments hardly help. While there may be little he could say to appease his doubters during a post-match press conference, to look to make excuses for his side’s shortcomings given the gulf in quality between the two sides on the day is arguably asking for trouble, and there is surely only a matter of time before the likes of Todd Boehly are unable to tolerate the current trajectory of this tumultuous season.
