Blues icon John Obi-Mikel believes Chelsea made the correct choice in firing Graham Potter after a poor run under him. Potter’s tenure began on a positive note, but subsequently, the Blues embarked on a dreadful run of losing games.
Following Chelsea’s 2-0 loss to Aston Villa, the club eventually made a difficult choice and fired the 47-year-old. In his 30 games as manager, the team only managed 12 victories. When his departure was confirmed, Chelsea were in 10th place.
Following his sacking the Blues hired Frank Lampard, who will serve as temporary manager till the end of the current campaign.
Mikel also made the comparison that Potter would be long gone if he had been Chelsea’s manager during the era of Roman Abramovich. (h/t Mirror) On the radio programme Dubai Eye, Mikel continued.
“So when you look at it, I think he’s been given enough time. If it was the Roman Abramovich era…Then Mikel decided to burst out laughing at the suggestion Potter could have been in charge during that era, with Abramovich arguably the most brutal at sacking managers.”
“So was he given enough time? I think the club made the right decision. Was the club too big for him to manage? Maybe. Because when I look at him sometimes on the touchline, he doesn’t really know what to do. He’s not communicating to the players; he doesn’t tell them what to do on the pitch.”
It is true that he had been sacked by Abramovich, who never tolerated a run of unsuccessful outcomes and would fire managers even if they were new to the role.
However, Potter is not solely to blame; if Todd Boehly hadn’t fired Tuchel, who had Chelsea having a respectable season, Potter wouldn’t have been in charge. He was given a team that was full of injured and out-of-form players.
Fresh additions also required time to establish themselves, so it is true that he would have wanted a full season to make a competitive Chelsea squad. If he had been given more time, he could have changed the tide.
But modern football has no patience. If Claudio Ranieri was fired by Leicester even after winning them the Premier League title, then anything is possible. Short-term profits and gains make it impossible for any owner to give a manager time at the helm when results aren’t going in the team’s favour.
Jadon Sancho has hit the ground running in his season-long loan at Chelsea, with the Blues eyeing a permanent deal…
Chelsea appear to be rediscovering their form under Enzo Maresca, aiming for a top-four finish as they currently sit third…
In their bid to further bolster their defense, Chelsea are aiming to make a big move for the star right-back…
Christopher Nkunku is keen to leave Chelsea in January over lack of game time in the Premier League There has…
Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres is on the radar of Chelsea Chelsea are riding high in the Premier League, sitting…
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca eyeing defensive reinforcements in January Chelsea could well find themselves in the market to improve their…