Potter: My big ‘mistake’ with Chelsea owners during ‘impossible’ job

Graham Potter recently opened up about his time at Chelsea during a rare TV appearance on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football. He reflected on his sacking, discussing the mistakes he made and what made the job incredibly difficult.

Potter was appointed as Chelsea’s manager in September 2022, replacing Thomas Tuchel, as the first hire under the new ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake. Despite being brought in to lead a new era at Chelsea, his tenure lasted only seven months. During this time, the club spent huge amounts on young talent but struggled on the pitch, leaving Potter with the lowest points-per-game record of any Chelsea manager.

Speaking about his time at the club, Potter explained that one of his biggest mistakes was misjudging how much the new ownership would change the club’s long-standing culture. He said, “The culture at Chelsea has brought them success, and I respect that. I thought with new ownership there would be a change, but culture runs deeper than that.”

Before the World Cup break, Chelsea had only lost three Premier League matches, but despite this, Potter said it felt like the situation was spiraling out of control. “It was easy to point fingers at the coach when the results weren’t what the fans and ownership expected,” he noted.

Potter also revealed how challenging it was to manage such a large squad, especially with the new influx of players. He admitted that the constant changes and adjustments made it hard to find stability, saying, “It’s impossible to play everyone in every match. Finding that balance was tough.”

Looking back, Potter acknowledged the “turbulent” atmosphere at Chelsea and wished he had done better. Despite the difficulties, he took responsibility for the outcome, admitting there were lessons to be learned from the experience.

After Potter’s departure, Chelsea continued to make managerial changes, with Mauricio Pochettino, Frank Lampard, and Bruno Saltor having brief spells before Enzo Maresca took over the reins. Potter’s reflections on his time at the club highlight the challenges of managing during a period of transition and the pressure that comes with high expectations.