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Chelsea owners are sticking to Graham Potter despite some fans turning on the former Brighton boss, as the Blues board sees Mikel Arteta’s switch at Arsenal as an example of what patience can bring.
- Chelsea fell 1-0 to Southampton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday
- The pressure is mounting on Graham Potter, who took over earlier this term.
- They have won twice in 14 games, despite spending over £300m in January.
Chelsea stick to boss under pressure Graham Potter as they look to replicate Mikel Arteta’s success at Arsenal.
Potter’s rough start to life at Stamford Bridge plummeted to new depths on Saturday following a home defeat to bottom-table Southampton.
Some supporters have turned on the former Brighton manager as Chelsea have won just twice in 14 games.
However, the club’s co-controlling owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital remain behind Potter despite the team’s clear struggles on the pitch.
Having sacked Champions League-winning head coach Thomas Tuchel, Potter’s appointment was always aimed at implementing a long-term philosophy.
Chelsea stick to boss Graham Potter despite his terrible run of recent results
The struggling Blues have now won just two games in 14 under Potter this season
It is noted within the club’s hierarchy that Arsenal faced vociferous calls to sack Arteta last season, but the Gunners continued to back their manager.
The north London club’s faith has been rewarded with Arsenal, now leaders of the Premier League, seeking their first title since 2004.
And there’s a sense that Potter should be given time to enforce his own principles on his expensively assembled squad, in the same way Arteta was endorsed, before he stands trial.
Chelsea’s American owners have invested significantly in Potter’s vision for the club, recruiting a number of Brighton recruiting and administrative staff who are aligned with their current head coach’s way of thinking.
Indeed, the prospect of sacking Potter now would raise serious questions about those appointments in the back room just months after his shakeup.
The club hopes that Potter can replicate Mikel Arteta’s success if given more time.
It remains to be seen, however, how much his loyalty to Potter will be tested if results don’t improve anytime soon.
Champions League qualification is not believed to be a critical factor regarding Potter’s future.
But if Chelsea, who are winless in their previous five, don’t move up the table soon, the pressure on Potter will intensify heading into the final weeks of the season.