Pep Guardiola insists Graham Potter needs more time at Chelsea amid increasing pressure on the Blues boss following their FA Cup exit.
Potter and Chelsea remain in their rut as Manchester City served them an FA Cup humiliation with a 4-0 thumping at the Etihad Stadium.
Chelsea were second best from start to finish in the third-round tie
Chelsea fans turned on their manager during the match
It was a particularly poor performance from Chelsea, who managed just one shot on target in the match, with fans heard chanting the name of Potter’s predecessor, Thomas Tuchel, during the second half.
“I can understand their [the fans’] anger. They’re supporters of Chelsea, they’re used to better than this and I can understand their position,” Potter said.
“All I know is that we’re working really, really hard. We’re in a tough moment and I think if we want to accomplish anything sometimes there’s going to be a struggle and that’s clearly what we’re in.
“That’s the challenge for us all, to try and stick together. I acknowledge the feelings of the supporters and I understand them.”
Potter’s men have won just one of their last eight matches in all competitions in a wretched run that’s seen them get knocked out of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup as well as slip down to tenth in the Premier League.
The poor form has led to some questions about his future at Stamford Bridge, but Guardiola has backed the former Brighton boss.
Guardiola referenced Potter’s work at Brighton in his defence of the Chelsea boss
“I would say to Todd Boehly, give him time,” Guardiola said. “I know in big clubs, results are important but I’d say give him time.
“The second half is what he is. What he’s done at Brighton is outstanding, but… we need time in the first season. I had (Lionel) Messi in Barcelona my first season so I didn’t need two seasons because Messi was there.”
Meanwhile, talkSPORT’s Dean Ashton referenced the struggles Mikel Arteta experienced early on in his time as Arsenal manager when looking at what Chelsea should do about Potter.
“Until he’s got the injured players back, until he’s been given enough time to bed in some ideas then you might have to accept that you can’t reach the levels right now,” Ashton said on commentary for talkSPORT.
Potter and Chelsea are in a rut
“Did City accept, did Liverpool accept? They did and they gave their managers an opportunity.
“I think you’ve got to give someone like Graham Potter the time, the players with the injuries coming back, the long-term view or pull the trigger and accept that they’ve got it wrong.”
“I think Mikel Arteta is a prime example and it might help Graham Potter,” Ashton added.
“If the Chelsea ownership have seen how there was plenty of ‘Arteta Out’ for a long period of time but I saw in certain performances myself that I could see what Arteta wanted…
“I’m yet to really see a good period of Chelsea under Graham Potter where I can see what he wants and what he’s trying to do.”
FA to investigate alleged homophobic chant during Man City vs Chelsea
The Football Association will launch an investigation into alleged homophobic chants during Manchester City’s 4-0 FA Cup win against Chelsea.
The discriminating chant was heard towards the end of the third round tie at Etihad Stadium, which City won 4-0.
The FA says it will work with legal authorities and City to look into the incident, writing in a statement: “We continue to work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service, as well as the UK Football Policing Unit, in relation to the use of this term.
“Part of our work in this area has been to provide the relevant authorities with impact statements from LGBTQ+ supporters, detailing how chants of this nature affects their experience and feeling of inclusion at football matches, so that a clearer stance and understanding on the chant can be established.
“We stand firmly against all forms of discrimination and we are striving to ensure our game is a safe environment for all, which truly embraces diversity and challenges hateful conduct both on and off the pitch.”
This is not the first time this week in the FA Cup that homophobic chants have been heard.
The FA has already pledged a probe into claims that homophobic chants were heard during Manchester United’s 3-1 win against Everton at Old Trafford on Friday.
That would be the second investigation into alleged homophobia from United fans this season, as such chants were heard during their clash against Chelsea in the Premier League back in October.
Another probe was launched last week after Chelsea’s Premier League draw against Nottingham Forest on January 1.
Source: talksport.com; goal.com
