Graham Potter is facing criticism from fans and the media after his team’s shock defeat to Southampton. Despite this, Potter believes he is the right man for the job and that he can turn things around for the struggling team.
In what has been a turbulent season for Chelsea, the club’s under-fire manager Graham Potter has come under increasing scrutiny following a shocking home defeat against Southampton. The Blues faithful made their displeasure known as Potter headed down the tunnel after a disappointing display from his side.
Despite dominating possession for much of the match, Chelsea were unable to break down a resilient Southampton defense, with James Ward-Prowse’s stunning free-kick on the stroke of half-time proving to be the difference between the two sides. The defeat means that Chelsea have now won just two of their past 14 matches in all competitions, a worrying statistic for a team with aspirations of challenging for major honors.
Potter, however, remained defiant in the face of criticism, insisting that he is the right man for the job and that he can turn things around. Speaking after the match, he acknowledged that criticism is to be expected after a 1-0 defeat at home, but attributed his team’s struggles to the challenge of integrating young players into the Premier League.
While acknowledging that some may view him as the problem, Potter maintained that he is not arrogant enough to dismiss their opinions and that his job is to help the team and work through a tough period.
“There will be people out there who think I am the problem.
“I don’t think they are right, but I am not arrogant enough to say their opinion isn’t worth articulating.
“My job is to help the team and keep working through a tough period.
“We had to make some changes today but the truth is we took a step back with our performance in the first half. We were better in the second half but not good enough.”
The manager made six changes to the side that lost to Borussia Dortmund in midweek, with Reece James and Thiago Silva among those left out of the squad. Potter explained that the pair needed to rest, with James having only just returned from injury.
As the pressure mounts on the Chelsea boss, it remains to be seen whether he can guide his team out of their current slump and restore the confidence of the club’s loyal supporters.
With major challenges on the horizon, including an upcoming Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund , Potter will need to find a way to get the best out of his players and deliver the results that the Chelsea faithful demand.