Chelsea’s struggles continue with a 2-0 loss against Tottenham, adding to their already dismal form with just two wins in 17 games and only four goals scored in 2023. The defeat has left the club in 10th place, a massive 14 points behind the top four. Despite the mounting pressure on manager Graham Potter, the Chelsea hierarchy has continued to show their support for him.
Fans and analysts alike met Potter’s appointment as Chelsea’s manager in 2022 with optimism and excitement. They hailed the former Brighton and Hove Albion boss for his attacking philosophy and innovative tactics, which had helped Brighton punch above their weight in the Premier League.
However, things have not gone according to plan for Potter at Chelsea. The team’s form has been inconsistent, with only two wins in their last 17 games, leaving them stranded in 10th place in the league table.
Following the loss, Graham Potter once again attempted to put a positive spin on the team’s poor display. He acknowledged the tight nature of the game and admitted that Chelsea were probably the better team in the first 20 minutes. However, he pointed out that Tottenham came into the game as it progressed, and the start of the second half made it difficult for Chelsea to mount a comeback.
“It was a tight game. It was even first half. We were probably the better team for the first 20 minutes and then they came into it. Overall we were happy enough with our performance and then the start of the second half has made it really difficult for us. Once you are one nil down they can defend a little bit deeper and with more numbers and play on the counter. We huffed and puffed without doing enough to score but overall it is a disappointing loss for us. It sums up where we are at [Tottenham’s opener]. We don’t get the first contact and then a save and then a not-great clearance. There wasn’t too much in the game but those key moments are not going our way. You can feel the desire of the players to turn results around but sometimes you go through moments where you have to suffer.”
Graham Potter
Potter highlighted the importance of key moments and expressed his disappointment that they weren’t going Chelsea’s way. He also praised his players’ desire to turn their results around, acknowledging that going through tough moments is a part of football.
Conclusion
Despite the mounting pressure, the Chelsea hierarchy has continued to back their manager. This show of support indicates that Potter’s job is safe for now. However, he will need to turn things around quickly if he wants to keep his job and help Chelsea climb up the Premier League table.
The club’s fans will be hoping for a better performance from their team in their next match, but Potter will need to find a way to get his players scoring goals again and improve their performances if they are to have any chance of finishing in the top four this season.