Why the walls are closing in on Potter
Results are abysmal and Chelsea fans want him gone. Butthe owner has been unwavering in his support…until now
SUDDENLY cracks are starting to appear. Thus far, Chelsea’s co- controlling owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have been unwavering in their support for manager Graham Potter. It was a message that continued yesterday, with Potter expected to be in charge for Saturday’s game against Leeds despite the Blues’ latest setback at Tottenham on Sunday.
But those close to the club are sensing a sea change — a very significant one. The pressure on Potter is intensifying and, for the first time, the American owners’ confidence in their man is being tested.
Blow after blow after blow, yet the narrative that has emanated from the Stamford Bridge boardroom has been one of unshakeable faith.
Faith in a manager whose team have lost three on the bounce.
Faith in a manager whose team have won twice in 15 matches.
Faith in a manager whose team have scored once in six games.
But is it blind faith? It is becoming increasingly difficult to argue to the contrary.
If doubts are surfacing, and Sportsmail is led to believe they are, it would only be natural. It would be more surprising if questions were not being asked.
More setbacks in Chelsea’s next two fixtures against Leeds in the Premier League and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League a week today and the current unease will become palpable.
The loss of faith can be a painful experience, for those who once believed and those who are no longer believed in.
It perhaps explains why Potter still finds himself as Chelsea manager today.
But the next nine days, certainly if Chelsea extend their winless run to eight matches, will be indicative of quite how robustly that faith is felt.
The owners have spent £600million on new talent in two transfer windows, so it is entirely fair for them to feel they should be getting better value for money.
However, the sheer number of players that have entered the building has undoubtedly caused Potter (below) problems.
Managing a standard Premier League squad of 25 is hard enough but 31 seems almost impossible. Potter is forced to leave several bigmoney signings out of his matchday squads entirely and is finding it difficult to balance.
The 2-0 defeat by Spurs on Sunday was the latest chastening experience for the under-fire boss. For 25 minutes, Chelsea played quite well. But when they fell behind at the start of the second half, their response was feeble.
The fact Boehly was in attendance as fans voiced their displeasure for the second week in a row could prove significant. If they lose to Leeds at Stamford Bridge on Saturday the dissension will reach fever pitch — and this time the boos will not be drowned out by euphoric Tottenham supporters.
What happens then? More support? More faith? At what point do Chelsea’s owners become culpable? If they lose to Leeds? If they are eliminated from the Champions League next week? If they are relegated?
Of course, that final suggestion is poppycock, though Sunday’s London derby defeat leaves Chelsea closer to the relegation zone (10 points) than to the Champions League places (14 points).
As refreshing as Chelsea’s backing of Potter has been, when does doing nothing become negligent? Sections of an increasingly disgruntled fan base have already made up their minds and the focus will turn to the owners if there is not a rapid improvement or a change of manager.
The emergence yesterday of a petition demanding the sacking of Potter merely added to the feeling that supporters have washed their hands of him.
Even Potter could not hide from the fact that the walls are closing in following Sunday’s loss.
‘I haven’t done enough at this club to have too much good faith, I accept that,’ he said. ‘If results aren’t good enough you can’t rely on support for ever.’
Potter has conducted himself with great dignity throughout an ordeal of a season so far. Assertions that he is not ‘angry’ enough to succeed at Chelsea are misplaced. Yet dignity will only take you so far.
Potter would likely have been sacked by now under Chelsea’s previous owner Roman Abramovich.
So far Boehly and his close ally Behdad Eghbali have shown more patience.
There is no precedent with Chelsea’s new owners that can help us make any assumptions about when their patience will start to wear thin.
More pain against Leeds, though, and we may find out quite how tolerant
they are.