Sport
Is Graham Potter really the sort of Chelsea manager Todd Boehly wanted?
Chelsea wanted a project manager and Graham Potter appeared to fit the bill at the time. The 47-year-old had achieved great success at Brighton and was hired to lead a rebuild of the squad at Stamford Bridge after Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s takeover of the London club last year. So far, though, the project has yet to get off the ground.
Not in terms of transfer market activity, of course. Chelsea have spent over £450m in the last two transfer windows with the squad at Stamford Bridge now drastically different to the one that finished last season under Thomas Tuchel. On talent alone, the Blues now boast one of the strongest squads in the Premier League.
Potter, however, is struggling to find the right formula on the pitch. While Chelsea impressed in spells against West Ham on Saturday, the 1-1 draw at the London Stadium was their third consecutive draw in the Premier League. Chelsea have won just two of their last 12 matches in all competitions are losing the opportunity to salvage anything from their campaign.
One wonders what Boehly makes of Chelsea’s performances under Potter, particularly since the World Cup break. The American businessman is known for his valuation of the entertainment factor and is reportedly keen to see Chelsea become an attacking team, but the Blues aren’t doing much to entertain their fans at the moment. In fact, Chelsea are currently a dismal team to watch.
Joao Felix’s opener against West Ham was Chelsea’s first goal for three matches with Potter’s team drawing blanks in goalless draws against Liverpool and Fulham. Of the traditional ‘Big Six,’ Chelsea have scored the fewest goals this season and by some distance, netting just 23 times in 22 league fixtures.
This might not be such a concern if this wasn’t an extension of a trend for Potter that can be traced all the way back to his days as Brighton manager. Indeed, Brighton were occasionally criticised for their toothlessness in front of goal and so Chelsea must consider whether they will ever be a free-flowing attacking outfit under their current manager.
Chelsea have repeatedly reiterated their faith in Potter despite a series of poor results and performances, but the Blues must still demonstrate progress between now and the end of the season. Without that progress, Boehly and the decision makers at Stanford Bridge would be entitled to ponder the suitability of their manager for the squad they have built.
Felix has settled in quickly since his January loan switch from Atletico Madrid, but Mykhailo Mudryk is still playing within himself despite some flashes of his obvious brilliance. Kai Havertz is being used as the focal point of the Chelsea attack, but the German is lacking cutting edge in front of goal while Mason Mount has become a peripheral figure in recent weeks.
Christopher Nkunku is expected to join from RB Leipzig this summer with Romelu Lukaku (on loan at Inter) also still on Chelsea’s books. However, there is a question of whether these players will make any difference to Chelsea’s potency as an attacking team. Potter doesn’t have a good track record of making the most of forwards.
Back when Potter was appointed, he was billed as a man with a vision for the future of Chelsea. Now, though, it could be the case that Chelsea have build a squad he doesn’t know how to coach. It’s not just the team on the pitch that’s a work-in-progress, it’s the club as a whole too and Potter could become a victim of the identity transformation taking place at Stanford Bridge.
