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Graham Potter reveals he was told by Chelsea players last season’s pre-season under predecessor Thomas Tuchel was the “WORST” they had ever had, where the Blues struggled on the US tour and were beaten by Arsenal.
- Chelsea currently sit 10th in the Premier League after winning two of their last 14
- Graham Potter spoke of Thomas Tuchel’s disastrous pre-season tour as a factor
- The Chelsea boss said “experienced players” called him “the worst they’ve ever had”
Chelsea players experienced ‘the worst pre-season’ of their careers under Thomas Tuchel last season, Graham Potter has claimed.
The Blues embarked on a disastrous US tour last July that saw them lose on penalties to MLS side Charlotte before being beaten 4-0 by Arsenal.
Tuchel questioned the players’ commitment in a tirade after the Gunners’ defeat, and months later he was left without a job despite winning the Champions League in 2021.
Potter mentioned the controversial tour when speaking ahead of Chelsea’s clash with Tottenham on Sunday.
“Talking to some of the experienced guys, they said it was the worst pre-season they’d ever had,” he said. ‘Organisationally, the tour didn’t work out as well as they would like. I wasn’t there so I can’t say.
Graham Potter’s Chelsea currently sit 10th in the league after winning just twice in their last 14 games.
The Chelsea boss said they played their pre-season tour of the United States, led by Potter’s predecessor Thomas Tuhcel, “the worst” of their careers.
Tuchel questioned his players’ commitment during a disastrous tour that came just weeks before the start of the Premier League season.
Reflecting on Chelsea’s defeat to last-place Southampton last week, Potter added: “We thought we made progress, but the first half against Southampton was below par.”
‘If you lose 1-0 at home to bottom of the league Southampton, you expect the fans to voice their criticism. The results have not been good enough, the 1-0 loss to Southampton is not good enough, they have a right to be angry.
Despite Tuchel’s disastrous pre-season, Chelsea were sixth in the league when he left the club in September.
After a solid start under Potter, the Blues went into disastrous form, winning just two of their last 14 in all competitions.
They face an inconsistent Spurs side on Sunday, but Antonio Conte’s men secured three important points against West Ham on Sunday.
Eager for the match, the Chelsea manager said they needed ‘a good performance’. We need three points. It is a game that we are also looking forward to. The training and the response have been really good.
‘We have talked about it with individuals and as a group about how to attack against Tottenham. It is a team that does not give away much, defends in depth, that will have to be thought about.
Chelsea lost to Charlotte of MLS on tour and were beaten 4-0 by Arsenal
The Blues face Tottenham on Sunday in desperate need of a win to help resurrect their season.