Chelsea have parted ways with Graham Potter after the Blues suffered a shock home defeat to Aston Villa in the Premier League.
A club statement released by Chelsea confirming the sack of the former Brighton manager reads;
“Chelsea have parted ways with Graham Potter. Chelsea would like to thank Graham Potter for all his efforts and contribution and wish him well for the future.”
Graham Potter was appointed Chelsea manager after Thomas Tuchel was sacked as the club’s manager after Chelsea’s Champions League defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the group stage.
The former Brighton manager was picked by new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly to replace Thomas Tuchel, who is now Bayern Munich manager.
Graham Potter’s blueprints with the Seagulls was an envy of the American investor who wanted to start his reign at Chelsea with the Brighton gaffer.
Todd Boehly raided the transfer market and inundated the new Chelsea boss with a number of young and promising talents but Potter was still struggling to gel together his new signings.
Since taking over as manager, Graham Potter has struggled to live up to expectations. Chelsea slip from the top four race and have languished in the middle of the table due to an inconsistent Premier League run.
Despite the Blues’ dismal Premier League run under Graham Potter, there were reports he has the backing of Todd Boehly who had picked him as a long-term partner in his new Chelsea project.
Todd Boehly was reportedly impressed with Graham Potter’s style and approach at Brighton and had hope to have the signature replicated at the Blues.
The American investor spent a whooping £566m in the summer and January transfer window signing new players but the results were not forthcoming.
Graham Potter was rated as Chelsea’s worst manager with the least win percentage after 17 games. Chelsea went into the World Cup break with an underwhelming display in the Premier League and other domestic competitions.
They were bundled out of the FA Cup and the EFL Cup and were still having hard time returning to winning ways after the World Cup break.
Despite an abysmal display in domestic competition, Potter have led Chelsea to the quarterfinals of the Champions League after eliminating Borussia Dortmund in round 16.
However, Chelsea’s dwindling Premier League fortunes has been of concern to the Chelsea hierachy. After the loss against Aston Villa, Chelsea dropped to the bottom half of the Premier League table.
They are eleventh on the table and are far off the Premier League top-four. Graham Potter was given a target of finishing in the top-four – a target more unlikely as things stand.
The only route to Champions League next season for the Blues is winning the competition this season.
They will face Real Madrid in the quarterfinals before playing the winner between Bayern Munich and Manchester City in the semifinals.
Who will succeed Graham Potter at Chelsea?
As per Fabrizio Romano, former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann has been linked to the Chelsea job.
Nagelsmann is said to be a favorite to take over from Potter. Chelsea hierachy considers him as a very talented manager who can turn the table around for the Blues.
