Chelsea star gives verdict on Graham Potter as he becomes worst ever Chelsea manager

The Englishman suffered another defeat on Sunday

February 27, 2023 at 12:50 pm GMT

Chelsea right-back Reece James has urged the fans to stick with the club and Graham Potter despite a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

The Blues were well beaten, and have managed to score just once all month, while the result increased pressure Potter, who has overseen just two wins in all competitions since the Premier League resumed after the World Cup break, and has seen his side score just six times since then.

It leaves Potter with the unenvious record of being the Blues’ worst manager since 1996, when Glenn Hoddle left the club, and defeat at the weekend would see him drop behind the England star and become their worst manager since 1979.

However, defender James has admitted that it the fault of the players as much as the coach, and warned that Potter’s ability is ‘not questionable’, though he claimed that results could take ‘weeks and months’ to arrive.

“We’re all on the same page, we’re sticking together and that’s a big positive,” he told beIN SPORTS. “[Potter] is in a similar position to us players. We’re the ones out there on the pitch performing, so just as much stick he gets the players are playing as well, we’re in it together.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK. 26th Feb, 2023. Premier League Football, Tottenham Hotspur versus Chelsea; Reece James of Chelsea is fouled by Richarlison of Tottenham Hotspur Credit: Action Plus Sports/Alamy Live News 2NPEPEH Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK. 26th Feb, 2023. Premier League Football, Tottenham Hotspur versus Chelsea; Reece James of Chelsea is fouled by Richarlison of Tottenham Hotspur Credit: Action Plus Sports/Alamy Live News (Alamy Stock Photo)

“Everyone has seen how good of a manager he is. That showed when he was at Brighton and they were in and around top four. His ability is definitely not questionable.

“[And] it’s not like we’re not trying, we’re giving it our all but results are simply not going our way at the moment. It’s not like the players are sacking it, or anything like this, we’re working hard, it’s just results are not falling our way at the moment.

“Nothing happens overnight. We don’t just wake up tomorrow and we’re out of the situation we’re in, it’s going to take weeks and months to get to where we’re meant to be.”