Pep Guardiola urges Chelsea owner Todd Boehly to give Graham Potter time
As quoted by the Independent after the match, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has urged Chelsea owner and chairman Todd Boehly to give manager Graham Potter enough time to fix the current issue.
City smashed Chelsea 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup, leaving the Blues out of the competition for this season. It was the defending English champions who ousted Chelsea in the Carabao Cup as well.
Moreover, this is the second defeat for Potter’s men in space of three days to the same opponents, having lost to them in the league at Stamford Bridge on Thursday. The defeat also meant that the Blues have now won only one of their last seven games in all competitions.
So, one cannot hide away from the fact that there are problems at the club. Potter is struggling to get a performance out of the team.
But, Guardiola has come in defence of the manager and urged that he is given time. Here’s what he said (h/t Independent):
“I would say to Todd Boehly, give him time. I know in big clubs, results are important but I’d say give him time.
“The second half is what he is. What he’s done at Brighton is outstanding, but…we need time in the first season. I had (Lionel) Messi in Barcelona my first season so I didn’t need two seasons because Messi was there.”
After the league defeat on Thursday, the Chelsea boss did come out with a defiant message that he does not fear the sack and urged the fans to realise that the Roman Abramovich era is over. Mirror also reported that Boehly is not thinking of sacking the manager even if he fails to deliver a top-four finish.
While all that is understandable given the club is undergoing a transition from top to bottom, there is a way to lose games of football.
Right now, Chelsea are not just losing games, they are getting embarrassed. Even against the relegation-fighting Nottingham Forest, the second-half showing was a shameful one.
More Chelsea News:
- Chelsea hold advantage in the race to sign Dortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko
- Chelsea boss Graham Potter urges fans to understand that the Abramovich era is over
- Brazilian legend Juninho heaps praise for Chelsea signing Andrey Santos
So, how long can Boehly and his team resist the temptation? It is a question only they can answer because it was they who sacked Thomas Tuchel in September to hire Potter. In the away end at the Etihad, Chelsea fans were chanting the name of the German boss as well.