Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - December 27, 2022 Chelsea manager Graham Potter reacts REUTERS/David Klein EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Chelsea‘s players are still ‘enjoying’ playing under manager Graham Potter despite the team’s struggles, according to journalist Simon Phillips.
The Lowdown: Potter under huge pressure
The 47-year-old has had a tough time of things since replacing Thomas Tuchel in the Stamford Bridge hot seat nearly six months ago, with performances and results falling well below the club’s usual standards.
Chelsea’s form sees them sitting in a mid-table position in the Premier League, and Potter is understandably under huge pressure to keep his job.
An intriguing claim has emerged regarding the Blues manager’s status in SW6, and it’s one which suggests that all is not as bad as it may seem on the surface.
The Latest: Chelsea players happy with Potter
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Phillips indicated that Chelsea’s players are still happy with Potter as their boss, refuting any claims of dressing room ‘unrest’.
The journalist stated:
“So, I’m told there’s no unrest as such. In the sense that there’s nothing untoward going on, the players predominantly are still backing Potter.
“And I do know that the sources of the ones that I’ve spoken to are enjoying working with him.”
The Verdict: Give him more time
There is no question that Chelsea’s results need to improve dramatically if Potter is to keep his job – he averages just 1.36 points per game in the league and has won only two of his last 14 games in all competitions – but showing patience with him is the right approach.
All managers can take time to get their thoughts across to a new group of players – Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp weren’t immediately successful at Manchester City and Liverpool, finishing third and eighth respectively in their first seasons at those clubs – and the former Brighton boss is still feeling his way into the job.
Some Chelsea supporters may want to see the back of Potter but he deserves the rest of the season at least, with recent signings such as Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk and Joao Felix likely to bed in to greater effect in the coming weeks.
Sacking the 47-year-old now would be another knee-jerk decision by Chelsea, leading to yet another manager having to come in during a season and stamp his own mark on the team.
About the Author
