Chelsea boss Graham Potter explains hooking off David Datro Fofana at half-time
Speaking in the post-match press conference as quoted by Football. London, Chelsea boss Graham Potter has explained why he hooked off the talented young striker David Datro Fofana at halftime in the 1-0 league loss against Southampton.
It was a decision that caught the attention of many Chelsea fans. However, Potter was quick to explain his reasoning for the substitution, stating that it was a tactical decision aimed at making use of another player, Raheem Sterling which might have had a better influence on the game.
Potter’s decision to take Fofana off was not entirely surprising, given the depth of talent in Chelsea’s squad. The Blues have an abundance of attacking options, so much so that they could play two-three different attacking combinations in any given match.
With so many talented players to choose from, it’s no wonder that Potter is having to make some tough decisions when it comes to his starting lineup and substitutions. He is yet to crack what is his best line-up though.
But it’s not just about having a deep squad – it’s about using that squad effectively. In this case, Potter saw an opportunity to use Sterling’s pace and skill out wide and decided to make the switch. It’s a move that could have paid off in a big way, had Sterling been able to make the most of his time on the pitch.
Here is what Potter had to say about the substitution and he explained his thinking behind bringing Sterling for the Chelsea new boy, whom we signed just last month.
“To use Raheem [Sterling] really. We wanted to use Raheem in the wide areas and that was the decision. It was a tricky one for David – I thought he had one really good action – and it wasn’t a reflection on him. It was more tactical to use Raheem”
Of course, this doesn’t mean that Fofana is any less important to the team. The young striker has already shown promise in his limited time on the pitch, and his potential is something that Potter and the Chelsea coaching staff will undoubtedly be keen to develop over time.
Fofana has plenty of raw talent, and with the right guidance and support, he could become a key player for the Blues in the years to come. However, he is not there yet and considering the situation the Blues find themselves in, they are in desperate need to find goals from somewhere.
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It’s almost baffling to imagine that a team with as much attacking talent as Chelsea are unable to find at least a goal a game. It shows that you can have all the names you want in the world but in the absence of the right tactics, it’s useless. Potter really needs to reassess his gameplan or his job could be on the line (if it already isn’t).