Like the tip of the iceberg in Antarctica, the sacking of Graham Potter is only a small glimpse into the immense troubles that have enveloped Stamford Bridge. Currently Chelsea sits in 11th place in the Premier League, eliminated from the FA Cup, and must meet the defending champions of the Champions League in the quarter-finals. Reflecting on this situation, it is very likely that the Blues will end the season without a title.
The growing situation and pressure made Potter’s burden continue to grow. Bad results in the Premier League, including defeat against Aston Villa in the last home match, prompted management to sack Graham Potter. Of the 31 matches, Chelsea’s winning percentage at the hands of Graham Potter was only 39 percent.
This policy is the club’s latest record by sacking two coaches in one season. Previously, Chelsea was indeed known as a team that was very “hard” towards coaches. Especially when Roman Abramovich was still the number one person at this club. It’s not uncommon for coaches who are successful at other clubs, don’t live long when they coach Chelsea. Some examples include Avram Grant (54 matches), Luis Felipe Scolari (36 matches), and Rafael Benitez (48 matches).
Not only that, Graham Potter, who served only seven months, is included in the list of 12 coaches who were fired in one Premier League season. He follows in the footsteps of Scott Parker (Bournemouth), Thomas Tuchel (Chelsea), Bruno Lage (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Steven Gerrard (Aston Villa), Ralph Husenhuettl (Southampton), Frak Lampard (Everton), Jesse Marsch (Leeds United), Nathan Jones (Southampton), Patrick Vieira (Crystal Palace), Antonio Conte (Tottenham Hotspur). and Brendan Rodgers (Leicester City).
Judging from the chatter that has surfaced on social media, many Chelsea fans are happy about Potter’s sacking. Many consider that the English coach is not worthy of leading a team that won two Champions League titles. In fact, according to a report by The Athletic, there was a less than harmonious relationship between Potter and the players. Some of them called Graham Potter by the name “Harry” and “Hogwarts.”
These discussions and opinions are only reactions to the complexity of the Chelsea problem. The decision to fire Graham Potter was like lifting the curtain on the stage.
Take note, Todd Boehly brought in Graham Potter from Brighton for £21.5 million. He gave a contract for 5 years with a salary of 12 million pounds per year to make Potter one of the highest paid coaches. These steps show Boehly’s uncompromising commitment. However, this commitment immediately collapsed and he had to bear compensation by paying Potter’s remaining salary. Based on the sequence of events, it is clear that Todd Boehly failed to choose and collaborate with the right coach.
If you look at it from the coach’s point of view, Potter’s portion of mistakes is offset by the efforts he makes on the field. Of the 31 matches, Potter generally uses four different basic formations. He prefers to use the 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-2-1 format. Potter is unbeatable when playing 4-3-1-2. But when compared to the two most frequently used formats, 3-4-2-1 has the biggest winning percentage.
The next question is, why is Potter so fond of using 3-4-2-1 or 4-2-3-1? The biggest possibility is that Potter plans to design a superior Chelsea on the wing by consistently creating an overload in that sector. What’s more, Potter has a lot of full-back stock that can be maximized in this scheme. Another cause is the problem of injuries that alternately befall. Reece James, who is considered Potter’s best full-back, will only return at the start of 2023. Likewise with Chilwell who often spends time in the treatment room.
One of his biggest mistakes was Potter’s failure to build harmony with the players off the field. According to a report by The Athletic, several senior players (not specified) were unsure about Potter’s ability to unite this team. The swelling in the number of players has also exacerbated the situation because playing minutes are increasingly erratic. As a result, many players are only heating up the locker room.
The next question after Potter’s firing wasn’t just about his replacement. But, how big is Chelsea’s chance to get up and get into the European zone. If you reflect on how Todd Boehly manages the club, the gestures and the way the players execute tactics on the field, and where they stand (in the competition). The chance is very small. Because, Chelsea’s problem is bigger than the 90 minute problem.
ASL
