Graham Potter should change Chelsea FC tune as defeatist perspective strikes improper chord with followers

Forward of Thursday’s west London derby towards Fulham at Craven Cottage, Potter described his Chelsea job as “the hardest in football”.

There isn’t a doubt he’s going through large challenges however his feedback should not what supporters wish to hear, and present a misunderstanding of the tradition on the membership. Chelsea followers are used to winners akin to Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel.

Potter talks a few interval of “suffering” and “pain” however that’s not the perspective supporters count on from the supervisor of a membership which desires to be difficult for main trophies.

Tuchel was a superb communicator and understood what was anticipated. He spoke about constructing a group that “nobody wants to play against” and used the uncertainty round Roman Abramovich final 12 months to create a siege mentality at Chelsea.

Mourinho exuded youthful charisma, conceitedness and aggression, whereas Conte promised to forge a “blazing inferno” when he was appointed. All of them helped construct a tradition that Chelsea followers loved. When issues didn’t go effectively, the supervisor was rapidly changed and success with a brand new one quickly adopted.

Chelsea received 21 trophies in 19 years beneath Abramovich, making them essentially the most profitable membership in England in that point. Excuses weren’t adequate in a hire-and-fire tradition, and that method resulted in essentially the most profitable interval within the membership’s historical past. Chelsea’s new homeowners wish to do issues in a different way post-Abramovich however their religion in a long-term imaginative and prescient is being examined.

They insist Potter retains their full help. They’ve employed new senior workers in virtually each division throughout the membership and have spent £300million within the switch market since their takeover final 12 months. However, with Chelsea in tenth place within the Premier League, supporters chanted for Abramovich and Tuchel throughout Sunday’s 4-0 FA Cup defeat at Manchester Metropolis.

One other dangerous end result on Thursday and issues may flip ugly when Chelsea host Crystal Palace on Sunday. On Wednesday, Potter tried to elucidate what goes improper at Chelsea. He spoke a few management vacuum at Stamford Bridge.

He stated he didn’t need sympathy over the dimensions of the job he faces and in lots of points he was proper in regards to the issues at Chelsea. Sadly, a defeatist perspective is not going to strike the fitting chord with Chelsea supporters, who need authority, not excuses.

Petr Cech, Marina Granovskaia, Bruce Buck and Paulo Ferreira, had they nonetheless been on the membership, may have defined to Potter and the brand new homeowners what followers would possibly wish to hear.

As an alternative, supporters are getting respectful explanations from Potter, like describing Manchester Metropolis as “top opponents” and saying going through Pep Guardiola’s aspect once more within the FA Cup on the weekend was “not the best fixture” for a aspect who’re struggling.

Again-to-back defeats towards Metropolis has left Chelsea’s season in tatters, and the environment within the dressing room is just like the temper within the stands.

Gamers have confronted criticism on social media, and negativity has led to poor physique language on the pitch. Chelsea are 10 factors off the highest 4 and defeat on Thursday may all however finish their Champions League hopes.

“We are not downing tools or throwing in the towel,” stated Potter. “We are still ambitious. We want to win. We want to compete at the top of the Premier League. That is what I am here for — we are trying to build a winning team and culture. We are not there at the moment but need to keep working.”

Solely a win at Craven Cottage will do for supporters however that won’t be straightforward towards a Fulham aspect flying beneath Marco Silva and above the Blues within the desk.