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Graham Potter is expected to be the next Premier League manager to be fired, with an extensive shortlist being prepared for his replacement at Stamford Bridge.
Despite only 24 games in charge, Chelsea’s 1-0 loss at home to bottom-placed Southampton has been a watershed moment for many, with boos amongst the Blues supporters heard at half-time and full-time.
Interim manager Ruben Selles now has the same number of wins as Potter in 2023 thanks to James Ward-Prowse’s free kick. With only one clean sheet in 28 games, there was still hope for a comeback, but incredible misses and heroic defense, along with more bad finishing, saw Chelsea go goalless once more.
Potter’s Poor Chelsea Record Working Against Him
Potter now has one win in ten games, over 17th-placed Bournemouth, and only three in the previous 15.
Even for those who recall the pre-Roman Abramovich Chelsea era, this is a run of form that approaches the worst in many fans’ memory.
None of this has helped Potter connect with the Stamford Bridge fans. His easygoing attitude toward press conferences has been exploited against him, and the decision to rest a handful of first-team stars on Saturday backfired spectacularly.
These factors, combined with a drop in performance from what was a strong showing despite the 1-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund in midweek, have propelled him to the top of the betting odds to lose his job next. Betting company William Hill has increased his odds of getting the sack to 5/4, with Cherries manager Gary O’Neill as the second favorite to be fired.
“After defeat to bottom of the table Southampton, it looks like the last chance saloon for Graham Potter at Chelsea and we’ve had to cut him to 5/6 to be the next top flight manager to depart.” said the betting site’s spokeswoman Lee Phelps.
Probable Contenders for the Chelsea Job Come to Light
Meanwhile, the list of probable new head coaches is far longer. Former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino is the 6/5 favorite, well ahead of the rest of the field. Zinedine Zidane, a three-time Champions League winner, is the second favorite at 6/1.
Former Spain manager Luis Enrique is priced at 8/1, with a long list of consistently and previously associated names following him. Former manager Brendan Rodgers is 9/1, while current Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone is 12/1, with his future in Spain uncertain. Behind him is a guessing game of former Blues managers.
José Mourinho, the manager of Roma, is tipped at 16/1, while Thomas Tuchel, who left the club only eight months ago, is tipped at 14/1. Carlo Ancelotti, the reigning Champions League champion, is priced at 20/1.
For the time being, it looks like Potter has the support of the new owners, even if those watching the games are less convinced. With cheers for Tuchel and Abramovich heard around stadiums in England in recent weeks, this is a problem that will be difficult to resolve.
Graham Potter enjoyed a really good spell in charge of fellow-Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion which put him in contention for his current job. He may well regret moving to the London side such are his troubles at the club.
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