REVEALED: Chelsea didn’t sack Graham Potter in January because of this Premier League manager – See Who is he
Chelsea’s decision not to sack Graham Potter in January was reportedly influenced by Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, according to The Times via TalkSPORT. Potter was eventually fired on Sunday, less than seven months after his appointment, following a 2-0 loss against Aston Villa last week.
Guardiola had advised Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly to exercise patience and not heed the calls of critics who wanted Potter out. Guardiola’s advice came after Chelsea’s 4-0 drubbing by City in the FA Cup, which left the London club with just one win in seven games.
In January, Guardiola urged Boehly to give Potter time to settle in, acknowledging that results were crucial in big clubs but emphasizing the need to be patient, especially in the first season. Guardiola cited his experience in Barcelona, where he had Lionel Messi in his first season and did not require a second season to make an impact.
While Potter’s accomplishments at Brighton were remarkable, Guardiola suggested that he would need more time in his first season at Chelsea.