Chelsea hope to make key backroom appointment before the World Cup

Chelsea hope to appoint a new sporting director before the World Cup

According to the Evening Standard, Chelsea hope to appoint a new sporting director before the World Cup in November. New manager Graham Potter will have a say on who the right person is for this position.

Several names have been on the club shortlist, including former Liverpool executive Michael Edwards. Though, Potter’s opinions will be given precedence before the final decision is made.

It is further revealed that the American owners will work in collaboration with the manager to make decisions for the club on a footballing front. Given that the manager is the club’s face, it makes sense to give him an audible role in proceedings.

Once the sporting director is hired, the owners will take a step back during transfer windows but remain available to support various departments of the club, including player recruitment.

Chelsea have already hired five members of the Brighton and Hove Albion coaching staff who used to work with Potter. Recruitment analyst Kyle Macauley is one of them. Macauley works with sporting directors and data analysts to scout players that suit Potter’s system to a tee.

The former Swansea City manager has signed a five-year contract with the club, and the club owners have promised to offer him time to implement his ideas on the team for longer-term success.

Potter was appointed on Thursday, a day after Thomas Tuchel was sacked following the Blues’ defeat against Dinamo Zagreb on the opening night of the Champions League.

The game against Fulham was supposed to be his first as a Chelsea manager, but that game is now postponed after the death of the Queen. It means that the upcoming game against RB Salzburg on Wednesday would be the curtain-raiser for the Englishman at Stamford Bridge.

More Chelsea News:

• Gus Poyet feels Mason Mount should be played in one position for Chelsea
• Graham Potter is proud and excited to take over as new Chelsea boss
• Cristiano Ronaldo created divide between Thomas Tuchel and Todd Boehly before the sacking

After an underwhelming start to the season, the pressure would be on the players and the new boss to get back to winning ways, irrespective of the fact that the latter is given time to work with the squad. 10 points from six league games is a mid-table start, while the loss in the opening group game of the Champions League does not help.