Former Chelsea Football Club manager Graham Potter has publicly acknowledged his role in the team’s disappointing performance during his tenure. In a recent statement shared by renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano on Friday, Potter accepted accountability for the subpar results.
“I take full responsibility for the team’s poor performance during my time as manager,” Potter stated.
However, he also cautioned against oversimplifying the issues, adding, “While it’s easy to pinpoint the coach as the sole problem when results aren’t going well, this doesn’t entirely capture the complexity of the situation.”
Potter’s remarks come after his abrupt departure from Chelsea FC in July 2023, following merely six months at the helm. During his brief stint, he oversaw 31 matches, securing 12 wins, eight draws, and suffering 11 losses across all competitions.
Chelsea had appointed Potter in September 2022, following the dismissal of Thomas Tuchel, with the club paying a substantial £21 million in compensation to Brighton for Potter’s services and those of his supporting staff. Initially signing a five-year contract, Potter’s tenure was unexpectedly cut short.
The 49-year-old was the first head coach appointment of the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital regime and he was tasked with overhauling a squad in transition following a spend of over £500m across the first two transfer windows under the new ownership.
He won just seven of his 22 Premier League matches and the timing of his dismissal denied him the chance to lead the side against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals.
“I worked really, really hard to get that type of opportunity,” Potter told the Telegraph
. “It was about choosing the right opportunity (after the job done at Brighton). And I didn’t choose the wrong one, it just didn’t work out.
“I don’t have any regrets over doing it, but, at the same time, when anybody loses their job, there’s an element of frustration, anger and maybe bitterness at some point.”
