Pep Guardiola has urged Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly to give head coach Graham Potter more time at the club following their heavy 4-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.
After securing a slender 1-0 Premier League win at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, the Citizens cruised to victory against the West Londoners at the Etihad Stadium, even without the presence of star names including Erling Braut Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne.
City raced into a three-goal lead within the first 38 minutes, with a brilliant Riyad Mahrez free kick followed by a Julian Alvarez penalty kick and a well-worked team goal finished off by Phil Foden.
Mahrez then netted his second and City's fourth from the penalty spot in the final five minutes after Kalidou Koulibaly bundled Foden down inside the area, condemning Chelsea to their sixth defeat in their last nine matches across all competitions.
Pressure is beginning to mount on Potter, with Chelsea out of both domestic cups and sitting 10th in the Premier League table, but Guardiola believes that the Englishman deserves more time to prove himself and turn the club's fortunes around.
© Reuters
Asked at his post-match press conference whether Potter should continue as Chelsea boss, Guardiola said: "I would say to Todd Boehly, it was a pleasure to meet him, but give [Potter] time. I know results are important in big clubs but I would say give him time.
"I think the second half today is what he is and what he did in Brighton was outstanding. All the managers need time and he was right, [managers] need time in the first season.
"I had results in Barcelona in the first season but we had [Lionel] Messi so one season was enough. But yes, everyone is an idiot [in football management]. To play against Man City at the level we are at in the Carabao Cup or FA Cup is not easy. Not for Graham, Chelsea or any team."
Meanwhile, Guardiola has heaped praise on his side's performance against Chelsea and highlighted Mahrez's contribution following a man-of-the-match display at the Etihad.
The 31-year-old, who was named the club's Player of the Month for December, has scored six goals in his last seven appearances for the Citizens as well as three in his last three against Chelsea.
© Reuters
"The quality of Riyad is everything. He loves to play football, he helped us to play the game," Guardiola added. "It was really good. It was a fantastic free kick. He played an outstanding game.
"He never lost his love. He loves to play football. The way he is training and playing now was exactly the same in Abu Dhabi. Riyad in important games is fantastic.
"The last game he didn't start at Stamford Bridge and the impact he had was incredible. Since we came back from the World Cup, he is playing really, really well."
Guardiola's side have extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to five matches since the restart, and they will now face either Oxford United or Arsenal in the FA Cup fourth round later this month.
The Citizens will now turn their focus to the EFL Cup quarter-finals, though, as they prepare for Wednesday's trip to St Mary's to face Southampton.
Oliver Thomas
