If all it took was a wave of a magic wand to get a football team back on track, Chelsea would have signed Graham Potter's distant cousin, Harry.
The Blues coach, appointed on September 8 to replace Thomas Tuchel, will lead his 15th match in London this Tuesday, against Bournemouth (6:30 p.m.).
And he is still looking for the formula: before the break, Chelsea lined up three Premier League defeats (including one against Brighton, Potter's former club, 4-1) with a League Cup elimination in the middle, by Manchester City (2-0).
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Premier League fixtures and results
Premier League standings
In terms of accounts or visual impression, the Blues are no better than before the dismissal of Tuchel.
"
One of the reasons why I came here is because it is potentially one of the best clubs in the world, which can fight for all the trophies
", presented Potter last November.
Before admitting: “
We know that we are not there yet.
Lucid.
Chelsea are sixteen points behind leaders Arsenal and five behind fifth-placed Manchester United.
Busy schedule, injuries and the discovery of a big club
Where is the Graham Potter who offered slick football with the modest Brighton club, which he had moved from the fight to maintain to the familiarity of European places?
“
Give him time
,” demanded his Manchester City counterpart, Pep Guardiola, one of the best coaches in the world who has “a
lot of admiration
” for Potter's work at Brighton, “
more than exceptional
”.
Several elements give the benefit of the doubt to Potter, 47 years old.
First of all, the calendar, already full as usual, and tightened because of the World Cup in winter.
The time for working and training has been reduced to a trickle.
Not practical for a coach who arrives in the middle of the season.
Another element: injuries.
French midfielder N'Golo Kanté has only played 2 matches this season.
Wesley Fofana and Reece James, two starters, were injured in early October.
They haven't played since.
If I had wanted an easy life, I would have stayed in Brighton.
Chelsea manager Graham Potter last November.
Finally, where the shoe pinches for Potter, it is vis-à-vis the environment of Chelsea, at the antipodes of Brighton.
At the Blues, as in all the big clubs, there are stars, egos, men who have seen beautiful and immature ones.
Getting them to join a project is a challenge.
Potter has never known such a locker room (Thiago Silva, Jorginho, Sterling, Aubameyang, Ziyech...).
For the time being, the Englishman does not impose his paw and his preferential system in 3-4-3.
“
If I had wanted an easy life, I would have stayed in Brighton
,” Potter replied in November.
Chelsea are still in the Champions League
Is Potter's seat hot already?
Certainly, in the big clubs, and especially in Chelsea, impatience is a characteristic.
But the former Swansea coach was chosen by Todd Boehly, who became owner of the Blues last June, to embody a long-term project.
Which, however, is nothing like Chelsea, who won their two Champions Leagues (2012 and 2020) by dismissing their coach during the season.
"
Nobody is successful on the first or second day
," defended Pep Guardiola.
Potter still has time, a little.
He must reassure in the Premier League, quickly.
Accept the cruel draw for the FA Cup, which sends him against Manchester City in the 32nd finals (January 8).
And think of the possible breath of fresh air in the knockout stages of the Champions League, against Borussia Dortmund (February 15 and March 7).
No storms to report in London.
But the sky is overcast.
