MIKEL ARTETA has told under-fire Chelsea manager Graham Potter that he cannot rely on the owners’ backing forever.
The table topping Arsenal boss knows exactly what Potter is going through right now after enduring online abuse and demands for his dismissal last season.
And though he is sympathetic to Potter’s plight at Chelsea, he warns that continued failure on the pitch will only be tolerated for so long.
Arteta believes he was just two games from the sack when Arsenal were bottom of the table after losing their first three League matches last season.
He says: “The board were really supportive but at the end of the day you have to win matches because you know if the run continues it becomes unsustainable.
“I knew I had to win against Norwich and Burnley and after that everything started to get better.
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“The environment improves, everybody is more confident and you can keep going. But unfortunately we all depend on results.”
Potter specifically cited the patience Arsenal showed to Arteta following Chelsea’s demoralising 2-0 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday.
It was a result which left him clinging on for dear life at Stamford Bridge after a miserable run of just two wins in 15 games.
Arteta understands Potter’s dilemma and says: “This job is so demanding and you have so many difficulties, especially when you lose.
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“But you cannot allow it to destroy your life. Your family and loved ones don’t deserve to have their lives affected in such a negative way because you have lost a football match.
“Getting the balance right is critical and it helps if you have someone to put that picture in front of you, because it’s not easy to see when you’re in that position.
“When you have a close relationship with other managers like I have in Spain, Italy and here in England, of course you get in touch with them.
“When someone is going through a difficult period, we all give our support. Maybe not on the phone but at least with a nice text message.
“We are all colleagues and we all know the pressure, the demands and the uncertainty that come with this industry.
“So of course you empathise when someone is suffering because you know how it feels to go through these moments.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
