Graham Potter described management Chelsea is “the hardest job in football.”
Chelsea travel to Fulham on Thursday night are looking to improve on a disappointing run of six defeats in nine, sending them down to 10th in the Premier League table.
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This is not the start of the season that new owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital envisaged when they took control of the club in May, following sanctions against his predecessor Roman Abramovich for alleged links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Last summer saw a major overhaul at the executive level with Potter replacing Thomas Tuchel as head coach along with the departure of club director and key transfer negotiator Marina Granovskaia, director of engineering and performance Petr Cech, president Bruce Buck, chief executive officer Guy Laurence and head of the division. international scout Scott McLachlan.
Boehly has since drafted in Christopher Vivell from RB Leipzig as technical director, Paul Winstanley as director of global talent and transfers with Joe Shields due from Southampton in a senior recruiting role alongside Laurence Stewart, who was tasked with “global engineering director”.
And Potter said: “Change is a challenge for any organization. Change [of ownership] happened to events outside of us so it’s not like there’s some sort of coup going on. This is what it is.
“Now we have to deal with the new and we have to rebuild everything because everything has changed, everything is gone, people have left. That is part of the challenge to come. [here].
“I understand that it’s going to be really difficult. I just think from a leadership perspective, it’s fascinating and challenging and stimulating and incredibly difficult.
“I think this is probably the hardest job in football because of that leadership change and because of the expectations and because of the way people see Chelsea. And obviously I don’t think we’re going to lose 10 bridges. first team captain [to injury] also.
“But that’s just where we are. All I can do is go to you guys, speak honestly, give my point of view and then understand the criticism you’re going to get. if you lose.”
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Despite Chelsea supporters chanting the names of Tuchel and Abramovich on Sunday 4-0 FA Cup third round defeat at City of ManchesterPotter insists he is not interested in garnering any sympathy despite growing criticism of the team’s performance.
“Ultimately, I’m not pursuing pity here,” he added. “I’m really grateful and honored to be here. I look at how you got through this difficult time: be really grateful because it’s been an unbelievable challenge. Like, oh. You What else can I do with my life?Worse.
“It’s pain but then life can really be pain. Life can really drive you crazy and then you have to recover after that, you have to deal with it, you have to move on, you have to move on and that’s what makes life better when it turns to a good place.
“I feel responsible and grateful for the opportunity and challenge that I have.”
