Chelsea Football Club have announced the sacking of their manager, Graham Potter, after less than seven months in charge. The decision came after the team’s disappointing 2-0 home defeat against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Potter, who took over the reins from Thomas Tuchel on 8 September, managed only 11 wins in 31 games in all competitions. The Englishman’s lacklustre performance led to Chelsea’s drop to the 11th spot in the Premier League standings, leaving them 12 points behind the top four.
Despite spending a whopping £550m on new players this season, the club’s owners expressed their disappointment with Potter’s inability to deliver results. In a statement, co-controlling owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali said, “We have the highest degree of respect for Graham as a coach and as a person. He has always conducted himself with professionalism and integrity, and we are all disappointed in this outcome.”
Potter, who agreed to collaborate with the club to facilitate a smooth transition, will be replaced by interim head coach Bruno Saltor. Saltor had previously worked with Potter at Brighton and is expected to take charge of the team until a permanent replacement is found.
Chelsea’s decision to part ways with Potter comes at a crucial juncture in the season, with important fixtures coming up. The team is set to face Liverpool in the Premier League on Tuesday and Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on 12 April.
The club’s supporters will be hoping that the change in leadership can inspire a resurgence in form and help them salvage their season. With time running out, the new manager will have to hit the ground running and deliver results if Chelsea is to have any chance of securing a top-four finish and salvaging their season.
