Graham Potter 'has total backing of Chelsea owners'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 14 November 2022

Chelsea head coach Graham Potter reportedly continues to have the backing of the club's owners, despite his side's poor form before the break for the World Cup.

Chelsea's owners reportedly have no regrets with their decision to appoint Graham Potter as the club's head coach and will not consider parting company with the Englishman.

In the space of little over 24 hours early in September, Thomas Tuchel was sacked and replaced by then-Brighton & Hove Albion boss Potter.

The 47-year-old initially started with a nine-match unbeaten streak with Potter spearheading a turnaround in the Champions League to secure qualification for the knockout stages with a match to spare.

However, since the Blues produced arguably their most free-flowing performance under Potter at Red Bull Salzburg, four defeats have been recorded in five matches.

Those setbacks have been against Potter's former club, Arsenal, Manchester City and Newcastle United, three of which came on away territory and the third of those games being in the EFL Cup.

Gabriel Magalhaes celebrates scoring for Arsenal against Chelsea on November 6, 2022 © Reuters

Nevertheless, at a time when Chelsea have failed to score in three successive matches, calls have emerged on social media calling for another change in the dugout.

According to The Athletic, there is no prospect of that happening with Chelsea's owners said to be 'unwavering' over their support for their head coach.

The report claims that club officials have taken the decision to reassure Potter that they had not given any thought to ending their partnership after little over two months.

That alleged stance comes with Chelsea now sitting in eighth position in the Premier League standings and eight points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

Chelsea defender Reece James pictured on October 5, 2022 © Reuters

The West Londoners are also without a top-flight win since October 16 when they defeated Aston Villa, the games following that success in the West Midlands ending in draws with Brentford and Manchester United.

During a period of 13 fixtures between October 1 and November 12, eight of which have been played away from Stamford Bridge, Potter has also had to contend with numerous injuries to key players.

N'Golo Kante's planned return from a hamstring injury was aborted due to the need for surgery, Wesley Fofana was ruled out with a knee injury on October 5, while Reece James sustained an issue with the same area less than a week later away at AC Milan.

Ben Chilwell has missed the last three matches due to a significant hamstring injury, while Kepa Arrizabalaga and Kalidou Koulibaly have also spent periods out of the team.