Chelsea has sacked head coach Graham Potter, just seven months after he took charge of the London club. Julian Nagelsmann, who was fired as Bayern Munich’s manager a week ago, has been established as the frontrunner to replace Potter. He was named as Thomas Tuchel’s replacement on September 8 on a five-year contract, however, he departed the club just seven months later, having won only seven of his 22 Premier League games as manager. The former Brighton manager was fired at 2.45 p.m. on Sunday. Back in January, some senior Chelsea figures wanted to oust Potter as manager. Billy Reid, Potter’s number two, has also departed the club. Assistant coach Bjorn Hamberg and custodian coach Ben Roberts will remain to help temporary head coach Bruno Saltor.
Chelsea face Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals later this month, but Potter’s resignation comes after the Blues were defeated 2-0 at home by Aston Villa on Saturday night, dropping them to 11th in the Premier League table, 12 points behind fourth-placed Manchester United. During the defeat at Stamford Bridge, a group of Chelsea fans chanted at Potter, “you don’t know what you’re doing.” Potter has ‘committed to assisting with the Club to promote a smooth transition,’ according to Chelsea. Former Brighton defender Bruno Saltor has been named temporary head coach, with his debut game against Liverpool at home on Tuesday. Nonetheless, Nagelsmann has emerged as the contender to be Potter’s long-term successor.
“Notwithstanding Chelsea’s assertion that they were investing in a process manager and his “creative teaching,” as well as their ongoing claims of supporting his vision, the club’s approach, particularly in terms of recruitment, was diametrically opposed to Graham Potter’s entire career,” Melissa Reddy said after Chelsea sacked Graham Potter. “Chelsea has already attempted to entice Mauricio Pochettino. They are one of three known Premier League clubs interested in [Brighton manager and Potter successor] Roberto De Zerbi. Yet, the timing of Potter’s decision, with Nagelsmann now available and Spurs approaching, is interesting.”
The Stamford Bridge board, which approved a £300 million spending binge in the January transfer window, reportedly no longer saw the progress they desired and “couldn’t sustain the lack of progress anymore.” Following the Villa defeat, the decision to fire Potter was unanimous.
“Todd Boehly and Chelsea could scarcely have had a more humbling weekend. Thomas Tuchel, newly appointed head coach of Bayern Munich, propels his new team to the top of the Bundesliga with an overwhelming victory over former leaders Borussia Dortmund,” Adam Bate said. “At the same time, Chelsea is suffering a 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa, dropping them into the bottom half of the Premier League table. Graham Potter, the man picked to succeed Tuchel at enormous expense, is fired the next day. Despite Chelsea’s continued participation in the Champions League, Potter has few concerns. With so much turnover at the club, it’s clear that this has been a difficult situation. His title, however, was that of a head coach, not a manager. He had to be evaluated based on his performance on the pitch. They were depressed.”
For more football news, click here
