A Riyad Mahrez strike was enough for Manchester City to condemn Chelsea to its 6th loss of the season and compound more pressure on Graham Potter.
Chelsea has had one win in their last 10 Premier League games, they sit 10th on the Premier League log, 10 points adrift of a Champions League spot and a relegation spot. What a glorious time for the club.
Where does this leave Graham Potter, the man who was brought in to replace Thomas Tuchel after a slow start to the season and a fallout with the club’s management? Is Potter good enough for Chelsea?
For a manager to leave Brighton & HoveAlbion for Chelsea is quite a huge leap. Graham Potter won’t be the first manager to take such a bold step but such a step comes with its consequences. You can afford to have a bad run of form in a club like Brighton as long as you avoid relegation struggles.
That is inexcusable and unpardonable at a club like Chelsea. A bad run of form might lead you to the exit door (s’ope otilo), there is no room for mediocrity. It is all about winning!
Chelsea might not have the best players but this set of players should be beating struggling Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and other mid-table teams. Potter has to find a way to get the best out of these players. Newcastle and Arsenal do not have the best squads in the league but they are two of the best teams in England at the moment. Tick Tock Tick Tock, Potter!
Having said that, we also have to admit that the Chelsea squad is not good enough. How many Chelsea players will get near the first XI of the top teams in Europe? They are also in this mess due to a lack of proper investment. A lot but useless bodies are getting weekly alerts at the club presently.
Bar Thiago Silva, when was the last time Chelsea signed a player who has gone on to deliver consistently for the club? Potter needs time!
He needs time to shape this squad to his taste. Do not forget that he didn’t get the Chelsea job due to his legendary status at Chelsea like a manager did at one club like that but due to the brilliant work he did at Brighton. He is a tested and proven tactician.
Graham Potter needs the backing of the fans and the management starting with this transfer window. He should be allowed to dictate the kind of players that comes into the club. This will enable him to play the beautiful and attacking football we saw his Brighton side play, which attracted Chelsea to him.
This season should be seen as a rebuilding season for the club. A short-term loss for a long-term gain. Finishing in continental places should not be a priority for Chelsea but fixing the inadequacies in the squad,particularly in the midfield and the attack. This should be the priority between now and next summer‘s transfer window.
This is not to say that Potter should be given a free pass to the extent that Chelsea will find themselves in the relegation zone. While the club backs him, his new Chelsea squad must begin to show improvement in performance and results as soon as possible.
If given adequate time and backed with the right resources, the holy matrimony between Potter and Chelsea might end up bearing juicy fruits for the club. He is good enough to manage Chelsea and the proper man to handle Chelsea’s long-term project. Will he deliver? Time will tell.
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