Featured
How Chelsea boss Graham Potter smartly avoided being sack ahead of EPL return
There were indications that Chelsea manager Graham Potter was fighting to save his job after the Stamford Bridge club found their form rapidly dipped near the end of October following their 4-1 battering by Potter’s old club Brighton before another 1-0 loss to Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Potter who replaced Thomas Tuchel in September had got off to a fantastic start at Stamford Bridge with a nine-game unbeaten run across the Premier League and Champions League.
Chelsea’s further dip in form had seen them crashed out of the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City and then lost 1-0 to Newcastle United.
And their sudden downturn has heaped pressure on Potter, with the west London club all the way down in eighth ahead of the return of the Premier League after the World Cup in Qatar, as the Blues prepare to face Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Chelsea had a reputation of being ruthless with managers under former owner Roman Abramovich, but with Todd Boehly’s takeover in the summer, the club is looking to change its approach and wants to give Potter time to settle in the role.
National Daily had gathered from reports that Potter flew out to California to meet co-owner Eghbali during the World Cup and has been told his long-term future is secure.
Potter has since spoken about that meeting and said: ‘I’m even more confident, even more aware of the support I have now than three months ago when I took the job.
‘It’s a credit to them and how they have communicated with me, it’s been fantastic.
‘We all know the pressure and demands at this club, but we have also got enough people who can see the perspective and where we are at to be able to say, ‘This is where we are, how can we improve?’
‘I’m really looking forward to the weeks, months and years ahead. We understand where we are at and the challenges.’
Potter, who flew out the United States with his wife, added: ‘I would rather have gone on holiday with a couple of wins behind me, because I probably would have been better company for my poor wife!
‘As it was, I’m staring into the Pacific Ocean, and she’s thinking about what a wonderful time we’re having, and I’m thinking about Chelsea Football Club.
‘But thankfully she’s been with me long enough to know that that’s how it is, and then you have to use the pain, the frustration, the disappointment of the last few weeks to say, OK, how can we go forward?
‘And then, like anything, a bit of distance gives you that time, a bit of perspective, and then it’s about how you can start the process of integrating all the players back and taking the learning of that time and saying OK, we need to show some direction here.
-
Features1 week agoHow ADC leadership crisis put Atiku’s 2027 ambition at risk
-
Energy1 week agoNNPC plans 5–10% stock market listing, targets 2027 for IPO preparations
-
Business1 week agoLoveWorld Expo 2026 to showcase global innovations, emerging technologies in Lagos
-
Business5 days agoDisCos urge Minister to end blame game, apologise to Nigerians over blackouts
-
Latest1 week ago2027: No Court rulings can keep me off the ballot, Atiku insists
-
Latest1 week ago2027: Wike declares Obi’s political wave dead, dismisses chances of presidential victory
-
Health5 days agoStudy links Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to higher death rates than Moderna shot
-
Latest1 week agoHow internal party disputes could shape the 2027 elections


