The Chelsea played against him five times Manchester City since May 2021. No fan likes the result blue: zero goals, five defeats. The last two came this week (0-1 in the Premier League and 3-0 in the FA Cup) and both served to hit the team hard. Graham Potterwho lives low hours and is hungry for results that defuse tension.
The May 2021 showdown, by the way, was the Champions League final which ended with the triumph of the team led by Tuchel at the time: top of a project died at the beginning of this course. Ironically, his name rang this Sunday at the Etihad Stadium sung by Chelsea fansin response to the heavy defeat in the FA Cup against citizens.
After the club sale process has been finalized –Todd Boely is the current owner- and after changing the leader off the bench, the questions now come: when has this already been done a large first investment of over 300 million and the path into mid-2022/23 is not even close to what was expected.
Without results
The rapid diagnosis of the patient is serious. Chelsea is 10th in the Premier League and is 10 points off the top-4, i.e. positions that give access to the next Champions League. This is extremely important: after having launched a new million-dollar project with Boehly, the presence in the best European competition is transcendental for gain credibility and be able to attract stars that they can pay. In the last eight days, only one win.
To add drama to the situation, they were eliminated from both the League Cup and the FA Cup, both against Manchester City. In February yes, they will play the round of 16 of the Champions League against i Borussia Dortmund.
technical design
How much to blame is Potter for the results? How much has the transfer policy influenced in recent months? How many decisions were made taking into account who was the manager? These questions also have consequences in the situation.
Tuchel’s sacking mid-season occurred a few days after the club’s decision bet for Aubameyang, a striker that the German coach had asked for (they met at Borussia Dortmund)… and that doesn’t suit Potter. Moreover, it was Tuchel himself who decided stop counting on Lukakuwhich had been the most expensive transfer in the club’s history.
Likewise, all of the summer transfers weren’t Potter-focused, while they were made strong investments in the future such as Badiashile, Chukwuemeka, Datro Fofana… not counting the great moves that Chelsea have completed since the arrival of Boehly: Fofana, Sterling, Cucurella or Koulibaly.
“I’d tell Boehly to give him time. Everyone needs time. Barcelona didn’t need it because I had Messi”
Manchester City manager
plague of wounds
When analyzing Chelsea’s problems, one cannot overlook all the bad news they have received in terms of injuries. A plague of casualties has befallen Potter, who has had to make do with absences and who has lacked his best footballers in several sections of the course. This weekend, without going any further, they were baja Mendy, Reece James, Fofana, Pulisic, Kanté, Loftus-Cheek, Sterling or Broja.
If Reece James is the best player on the squad – renewed until 2026 with the highest salary, an unequivocal sign of his importance -, Fofana was a clear strategic bet for this project… and He was only able to play four games.
This situation has triggered opportunities for young people. Recently played minutes Hall, Hutchinson or Humphreysfor example, while some with less rotation like Zakaria or Chukwuemeka participated more often.
