Updated:
Feb 24, 2023
One win in five games, and it seems as if the appointment of Graham Potter isn’t reaping its rewards. What was even more baffling, was the defeat away to the bottom side, Southampton.
Just five out of 17 shots on target at home against the side at the bottom of the League, is simply not good enough, and when you have a striker like Aubameyeng, on the bench, why are you not using him more?
Using Raheem Sterling as a false 9 does not always work, this was the case against Southampton last week.
Felix And Mudryk Need Time?
Another issue is the January signings of Jao Felix and Mykhalo Mudryk, who are still familiarising themselves with a different league. This is the disadvantage of signing players from clubs outside the Premier League, especially in the January Transfer Window.
If you want to sign players from outside the Premier League, you either do it in the summer, which gives them more time to bed into a new League, or you do what Arsenal has done, and look for someone like Jorginho, who has experience in playing in this League.
Panic Button
You just feel that Bohely had pushed the panic button too early when they axed Tuchel after their humiliating defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League, and you just feel that the pressure on Potter is beginning to grow.
But Potter seems to have the backing of the owners.
“I’ve spoken to them. It’s the same as always. He told Express, ‘There’s always been support,” “I’ve been under pressure for four months, [Their support] continues. They’ve been great. They see where we’re at, but are frustrated because we have to do better.”
Maybe it could help if Chelsea did not qualify for Europe this season, as they are in need of a reset.
When Potter joined Brighton it took him three seasons for the Seagulls to finish inside the top 10, and now they are flourishing in seventh place under Roberto De Zerbi.
The first and most important task for Potter is to pick an XI and stick to it. Time and time again does Potter begin tinkering with his midfield, in the defeat to Southampton, he had the trio of Madueke, Felix, and Mason Mount, and in the game against Dortmund, he had Zyech instead of the England midfielder, which kind of give you a sense of uncertainty of knowing what his best XI is.
if you look at the Blues’ current position in the League, sitting in 10th place, 11 points outside the top four is a mountain to climb.
Hence, you can understand why the fans are angry, and this is the time for Potter to prove that he is the right man for the job with a victory at Spurs on Sunday, just to prove that he is the right person for the job.
This is why Sunday’s game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, is so important for Potter and his side to prove to the fans that even though the club is in a sticky situation at the table, there is still light at the end of the tunnel if they remain patient with the team and their manager.
Let’s also not forget that Spurs’ current form has been patchy. When they defeated City on 5th February, you may have suspected that they would go on a winning streak, but the 4-1 humiliation at Leicester, followed by the 1-0 defeat in Milan, suggest that you never know what kind of Spurs will turn up on Sunday.
This is why Chelsea needs to pick themselves up and show that although we are not where we want to be at the present moment, we have the spirit and determination to turn things around, and that is the most important thing, team spirit and trusting your manager.
Can Potter turn things around for Chelsea?
Find out on World in Sport.
