Chelsea have underlined their desire to make Graham Potter a long-term option in the dugout of Stamford Bridge after making him the most expensive manager of all time, with reports claiming that the Englishman will not be sacked even if the Blues fail to make the top 4 this season, which is their initial target.
The west London side parted ways with Thomas Tuchel following their 1-0 defeat to Dynamo Zagreb in the Champions League opener, only furthering the poor start to Chelsea’s season that has seen them lose twice and concede a last-minute equaliser to Tottenham, even though they remain just 5 points behind leaders Arsenal in the Premier League, and three points behind fourth-placed Brighton.
However, unlike Tuchel, it appears that Potter will not be a part of the hire/fire system that existed under Roman Abramovich, with the Englishman having signed a 5 year contract with the Blues. Instead, new owners Todd Boehly see the former Brighton boss as more of a project manager, meaning that failing to finish in the top 4 will not necessarily be a stackable offence for Potter.
However, that does not mean that it is not important.
The Athletic report that “the new owners have still set finishing in the top four as a minimum target for the club this season”
“This doesn’t mean Potter will be sacked if they don’t. They did give him a 5-year contract after all.”
Meanwhile, the London Evening Standard add that “Chelsea...are no longer focused on the kind of short-term trends which dominated under the previous regime, and believe that Potter is the perfect manager to build the post-Abramovich era.”
With plenty of quality in the Blues’ squad, Potter will be confident of overturning the small deficit to those currently in the top 4 before the end of the campaign.
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