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      Why Thomas Tuchel returning to Chelsea makes sense as fans chant for former manager and pile pressure on Graham Potter

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      THERE were several chants from the Chelsea end at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday – but the most telling were those calling for Thomas Tuchel.It’s just 124 days since the German was sacked, but things have quickly turned sour under Graham Potter after SIX defeats in nine.
      Graham Potter is under serious pressure after six defeats in nine matchesCredit: Rex
      Chelsea fans were calling for Thomas Tuchel at the Etihad StadiumCredit: AP
      The Blues were thrashed 4-0 by Manchester CityCredit: Getty
      And they could already be back in the market for a new manager.
      The Blues are 10 points behind fourth and have been knocked out of both domestic cups at the first hurdle for the first time since 1989 after their humiliation at City.
      If their form continues they’re on course to miss out on Europe altogether for just the second time this century.
      As a result, Potter is second in the Premier League sack race behind Frank Lampard and is fighting desperately for his job.
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      But this isn’t unfamiliar territory for the West Londoners.
      Chelsea found themselves in a similar position almost exactly this time two years ago.
      A likeable, young, English manager trying to implement his own ideas into the squad but with little success.
      On that occasion, the Blues were five points behind the top four and were still in the FA Cup.
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      Regardless, Lampard, who’s far more popular with the Stamford Bridge faithful than Potter will ever be, was axed.
      He was replaced by a certain Tuchel, who had his hands on the Champions League some five months later.

      The 49-year-old went on to win three trophies in 20 months and reach three domestic finals, which saw him strike an instant bond with fans.
      So if Chelsea do opt to pull the trigger, it makes perfect sense to bring him back.
      Besides the couple that have been signed in this window, Tuchel already knows the entire squad.
      And a bunch them were signed by him in the summer.
      To begin with, he could get a tune out of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who only joined to reunite with Tuchel, and he would get supporters back onside.
      And an optimistic punt for Betfair favourite Mauricio Pochettino aside, there’s hardly any other proven managers out there.
      Read More on The Sun
      Zinedine Zidane could be of interest to Boehly and Co, but he wants the France job and is prepared to wait.
      Therefore, if the American does eventually lose his patience, he should look no further than the man Potter replaced.
      More than 8,000 Blues fans were at the EithadCredit: Reuters
      Chelsea are 10th in the Premier League and out of both cupsCredit: Rex More

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      Will Boehly sack Potter or stick by him and deliver on promises as Chelsea fans turn on under-fire boss?

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      GRAHAM POTTER knew he was walking into the most demanding club in English football when he arrived at Chelsea.But it is only in the next few weeks that the Blues boss will know for sure if the promises made by Todd Boehly are real.
      Pressure is mounting on Chelsea boss Graham PotterCredit: Reuters
      As the cascade of chants from the visiting fans echoed around the Etihad on Sunday night, Potter will not have needed reminding of the fates of so many of his predecessors.
      Indeed, if this had been 12 months ago, you would not have put a penny on the manager surviving the week.
      The Roman Abramovich was, unquestionably, one of sustained success.
      But it was also built on a brutal, immediate, response to not just failure, but the FEAR of failure.
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      If a manager was deemed to have lost his way, he lost his job. 
      Even if, as in the case of Roberto di Matteo, he had WON the Champions League just a few months earlier.
      Many, especially fans of rival clubs, criticised and condemned.
      Even some Chelsea fans questioned the wisdom of the individual decisions, although they were heartily relieved and approving of more than a few swift sackings, too.
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      Nobody, though, would argue with the results. Trophies, followed by trophies, followed by trophies.
      Abramovich’s forced departure last year, followed by Boehly’s ultimate arrival as the new custodian of the Bridge, changed the picture.
      The American continued the Chelsea spending policy, of that there could be no doubt.
      Net outgoings of more than £200m including the arrivals of Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Marc Cucarella, Wesley Fofana and – on deadline day – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
      Yet within five days of Aubameyang’s signing – which appeared a sop to moaning Thomas Tuchel – the German was sacked, replaced by Potter.
      It looked like a determined change in policy. 
      The new owners, bringing in their own man – very much their own man – with a long-term view. 
      Recruiting Potter from Brighton was a statement of intent, one the hierarchy wanted the dressing room to hear, see and read.
      Potter, too, was given the vows and assurances he sought. That he would be given time to rebuild, to finesse, to shape the squad in his image.

      With the recruitment department already at work this window – striker David Datro Fofana made a half-time debut at City while Benoit Badiashile was on the bench and Brazilian andrey Santos has also signed – it seems the rebuild is continuing.
      The bigger question, though, is whether Potter WILL be given the time and opportunity to pull the work off – or if the waves of protest become too great for Boehly and Co to ignore.
      In Potter’s defence, he has had to contend with a truly horrific injury crisis.
      Fofana, the £70m recruit from Leicester, is expected to be out for another month having not played since the start of October.
      Both first-choice full-backs, Reece James and Ben Chilwell, remain out, as are midfield heartbeat N’Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Christian Pulisic and Armando Broja.
      As for Aubameyang, he seems as interested in playing for  Chelsea as he was bothered about Arsenal in his final months at the Emirates: not a jot.
      Yet what riled the Blues fans at City – both those who made the trip to Manchester and the vastly greater numbers who watched on TV – was the passive acceptance of defeat they witnessed.
      Fans recognise their team can lose, even if they don’t like it.
      But if it looks as if the team is simply swallowing, if the manager appears inert and unresponsive, if it seems that nobody cares, that is a capital offence.
      Fans are calling for owner Todd Boehly to axe the Blues bossCredit: Getty
      The bitter truth is that Chelsea are, almost, out of the race for the top four, and already out of both domestic cups, with Borussia Dortmund in wait in the Champions League next month.
      Under Abramovich, managers were sacked as soon as the club decided they were not going to finish in the top four unless there was a change. No matter at what point of the season that was.
      By that metric, there is no doubt, whatsoever, that Abraovich would have pulled the plug on Potter weeks ago.
      That he remains in charge now suggests Boehly, at least for the moment, is as good as his word. That he will give the manager the chance to show he can turn it round.
      Yet it cannot go on indefinitely. 
      Patience is a virtue, yes. Long-term thinking is good. 
      And Potter has already proven, at Ostersunds, Swansea and Brighton, that he will come good if he is properly backed.
      But this is Chelsea, not Ostersunds, Swansea or Brighton. It is different, tougher – and when the fans turn, they REALLY turn.
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      You have to be a truly strong owner to withstand that potential scale of mutiny and revolt. 
      For Potter’s sake, Boehly needs to be that kind of strong owner. More

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      Graham Potter admits Man City drubbing was ‘painful’ as Pep Guardiola urges Todd Boehly not to sack Chelsea manager

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      PEP GUARDIOLA is urging Chelsea not to sack Graham Potter.Guardiola’s Manchester City inflicted what Potter admitted was a “tough, painful” 4-0 FA Cup defeat.
      Cesar Azpilicueta shows the misery of Chelsea’s 4-0 FA Cup lossCredit: AFP
      Graham Potter says criticism and handling a poor run are all ‘part of the challenge’ and he’s been backed by rival boss Pep GuardiolaCredit: AFP
      But despite Chelsea’s fifth loss in seven games, the City chief told Stamford Bridge co-owner Todd Boehly his manager “needs more time”.
      Visiting fans chanted for old boss Thomas Tuchel after a three-goal blitz destroyed their men before half-time.
      Riyad Mahrez’s brilliant free-kick, a Julian Alvarez penalty and a neat Phil Foden finish on 38 minutes killed off dismal Chelsea.
      Midfielder Mahrez, who hit the only goal in Thursday’s Premier League clash between the same sides, then tucked home a late spot-kick.
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      Injury-hit Chelsea were booed off at both the interval and full-time as City outclassed them – just three days after their much tighter game.
      Potter said: “The first half was painful and tough for us all. We were second best to a very, very good side. 
      “We are not in a great moment and even though it was a cagey first 20 minutes we couldn’t attack the backline well enough.
      “Manchester City are very good at stopping you doing that but at the same time we struggled.”
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      And of Chelsea’s poor run, he added: “You can make excuses and look for reasons or say it isn’t good enough. Both of those answers are correct. 
      We have to keep improving and stick together because clearly we are suffering as a football club and it’s not nice at all.”
      “You understand the supporters’ frustration, we respect that.
      “There are always other opinions and negativity and criticism because the results haven’t been positive.
      “That’s part of the job and part of the challenge.”
      Englishman Potter believes Chelsea should be patient in the same way City were with Guardiola in his first season at City.
      And the Spaniard agrees.
      Guardiola said: “I would say to Todd Boehly, ‘Give him time’. I know in the big clubs the results are important but I would say give him time. 
      “What he has done in Brighton was outstanding, but all managers need time. We needed time in my first season.” More

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      Chelsea verdict: Potter must be sick of Man City but at least woeful Blues won’t face more cup final heartache this year

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      THE only consolation for Chelsea was that they know only too well it could have been worse.Four years ago, they shipped six goals here at the Etihad – and maybe if Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne had played it could have been similarly embarrassing here.  
      Graham Potter has plenty to reflect on after another humblingCredit: AFP
      Chelsea new boy David Datro Fofana played the second half but could do little as Man City won easilyCredit: Getty
      Mason Mount shows the pain of Chelsea’s FA Cup maulingCredit: Reuters
      At least it was only four this time.
      But the sight of Chelsea fans streaming out of the exits in the 39th minute told you everything about where Graham Potter’s reign is right now.
      Maybe some were looking to beat the queues for the toilets or to get their half-time pie in early.
      However, the fact their team were 3-0 down to a rampant Manchester City and many of the seats were unoccupied when the second half resumed suggested some were already heading home.
      Potter must have almost wished he could join them too – he must be sick of the sight of the champions and their boss Pep Guardiola.
      The former Brighton boss now has only two wins in his last 10 matches – yet three of those have been against City.
      That is one of the mitigating factors which Potter must hope spares him the same fate as many of his predecessors.
      Even when they are not quite at their brilliant best, nobody wants to face Guardiola’s side three times in the space of six matches.
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      Phil Foden completed Man City’s burst of three quick goalsCredit: Getty
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      And when you are going in without a whole team of absent first teamers it becomes an even more daunting assignment.
      Yet they still had nine senior players in their starting line-up and the way heads dropped after Chelsea went behind will be a huge concern for Potter.
      The fact that some of the travelling fans sang the name of Thomas Tuchel – the man who Potter replaced in September – during the second half felt quite telling.
      The word from the Stamford Bridge board room before the game was the manager still has their backing despite the face they are in 10th place in the table.
      Well now they are out of both domestic cups too – at least their fans are spared the pain of losing in the final – as they experienced in both last season.
      To be Chelsea did OK for the first quarter here – keeping the ball for long periods without ever really opening the home side up.
      But the way the visitors seemed to fold after Riyad Mahrez’s stunning free-kick on 23 minutes shows this is a team with real problem.
      Fifteen minutes later it was 3-0 and the tie was over.
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      Potter now has to rally his troops for a West London derby at Fulham – who currently sit three places and three points above them in the table.
      Lose that and the calls for Potter’s head will be deafening.
      Kai Havertz struggled as an out-of-out striker as Chelsea slumpedCredit: Getty
      Man City scorers Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden celebrateCredit: Getty More

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      Chelsea set to block Mason Burstow loan transfer exit with young striker in line for first-team shot amid injury crisis

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      CHELSEA’S massive injury crisis could cost Mason Burstow a loan move.The ex-Charlton striker, 19, is wanted by several clubs but the Blues’ transfer team are blocking his exit — he may even get a shot at the first team.
      Chelsea are set to block young striker Mason Burstow going out on loanCredit: PA
      Burstow joined the Blues last January before being loaned back for the remainder of the season after breaking into the Addicks team under former manager Nigel Adkins.
      He scored with his very first touch in senior football when he netted against Crawley Town in the EFL Cup in September 2021.
      He continued to impress even when Adkins was replaced by Johnnie Jackson in October of that year.
      He managed to score six goals and assist three more in 23 appearances for the South London club.
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      The 19-year-old has since been the Blues youth academy and has scored four goals and assisted two in his 16 appearances for the under-21 side.
      Chelsea had been thinking about loaning him out but due to the current injury crisis at the club have changed their minds.
      The Blues have had the worst injury record since the start of last season out of any club in the top five European Leagues.
      There have been 97 injuries to the players and there are currently at least nine players in the treatment room.
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      So there is a chance that Burstow could feature for the Blues instead of going out on loan.
      But he will have to compete with January signing David Datro Fofana, who joined the club for £10.5million from Molde. More

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      ‘I have to hide how p***ed off I am’ – Blunt Graham Potter hits back at critics over ‘relaxed’ Chelsea management style

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      GRAHAM POTTER has fiercely defended his management style after a tough start to life at Chelsea.The Englishman has endured the worst start as a Blues boss in 30 years, having only won four of his 11 Premier League games.
      Graham Potter has admitted the does get angry despite his calm demeanour in front of the mediaCredit: Getty
      He has come under fire for his “relaxed” demeanour despite results not being positive in recent times.
      But Potter has hit back, saying that he hides his “angry” side when talking to the media as he is representing the club.
      Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s FA Cup Third Round tie against Manchester City, he said: “I hide it well.
      “You see me here, and this isn’t actually me all the time.
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      “So, of course, there are times where you get cross, and you get angry.
      “It’s not like I’m just some robot just talking to this tin can. Of course, there’s stuff that happens.”
      The former Brighton boss continued and insisted that he can be annoyed by some “stupid” questions from journalists but remains respectful.
      He added: “My responsibility when it comes to you (the media) is to speak in a respectable way as I can, even though some of your questions are stupid. 
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      “But I’ve got to answer them the best I can, and as respectfully as I can because I represent a fantastic football club, and I’ve got that job to do.
      “Regardless if I’m p***ed off after the game, I have to come here and represent Chelsea the best way I can.”
      Chelsea will face Manchester City for the second time in three days following their Premier League defeat on Thursday.
      Riyad Mahrez scored the only goal of the game at Stamford Bridge to heap more pressure on Potter.
      However, Potter will have the chance for redemption today as Chelsea travel to the Etihad Stadium to try and earn a spot in the fourth round of the FA Cup. More

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      Graham Potter has worst start as Chelsea manager for 30 YEARS after goal-shy Blues slumped to defeat to Man City

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      GRAHAM POTTER has endured the worst Premier League start of any Chelsea boss in the last 30 years.The former Brighton manager – who is preparing his side to take on Man City in the FA Cup today – has had a difficult introduction to life in the Stamford Bridge hotseat.
      Chelsea managers after their first 11 Premier League games
      Potter, 47, inherited a squad in flux from predecessor Thomas Tuchel, who had also endured an underwhelming start to the campaign.
      Chelsea have not been the recipients of a new manager bounce, however, and find themselves slipping away from the top four at an alarming rate.
      The West Londoners are TENTH in the Premier League table – ten points behind the Champions League places.
      Potter was handed a five-year contract by new owner Todd Boehly in September – with the American having identified the Englishman as his man.
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      But he will have a big job in rejuvenating his team and keeping everyone onside.
      He won his first three Premier League games in charge – overseeing triumphs over Crystal Palace, Wolves and Aston Villa.
      Things have been trickier since, with the Blues on a dismal run of just one win in their eight in the league.
      This horror form has seen them lose to Brighton, Newcastle, Arsenal and most recently Manchester City.
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      Glenn Hoddle is one of two bosses to have a worse Prem start than PotterCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Ian Porterfield was Chelsea’s first Prem bossCredit: Getty
      Only Ian Porterfield and Glenn Hoddle have had worse starts to life as Chelsea boss in the Premier League era.
      Late Scot Porterfield was sacked in 1993, being replaced by Tottenham legend Hoddle – who left to become England manager three years later.
      Both began life in the Premier League with records of three wins, four draws and four defeats through their first 11 games.
      Potter, meanwhile, has managed an only slightly better four wins, three draws and four defeats.
      This means that ALL of Roman Abramovich’s managerial appointments started better than Boehly’s first.
      Guus Hiddink had the best start, winning nine drawing one and losing just one of his first 11 Premier League games.
      While Carlo Ancelotti also won nine of his first 11 on the way to winning the title in the 2009-10 season.
      Carlo Ancelotti and Thomas Tuchel both achieved better Premier League starts than PotterCredit: The Times
      Roberto Di Matteo went on to replace Andre Villas-BoasCredit: AFP
      Maurizio Sarri, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte all managed eight wins from 11.
      While Avram Grant, Andre Villas-Boas and Frank Lampard earned seven apiece.
      Rafael Benitez and Thomas Tuchel each managed six wins, with the latter grabbing four draws and the former getting three.
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      Ruud Gullit, Roberto Di Matteo, Claudio Ranieri and the late Gianluca Vialli earned five wins apiece in their opening 11 in the Prem.
      David Webb, like Potter, earned four wins, but also four draws – meaning he earned a point more over the time period than Chelsea’s current boss.
      All of Roman Abramovich’s appointments had better starts than PotterCredit: Getty
      Antonio Conte had a significantly better start at Chelsea than Potter didCredit: Getty
      Chelsea’s top league scorer is Kai Havertz with just four More

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      Chelsea new-boy David Datro Fofana’s old club want transfer CANCELLED and have written to Fifa to stop £10.5m deal

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      THE boyhood club of Chelsea’s latest signing, David Datro Fofana, have attempted to CANCEL his move to Stamford Bridge.The Blues confirmed the arrival of the striker, 20, from Molde last month for £10.5million.
      Chelsea unveiled new signing Fofana earlier this weekCredit: Getty
      It means Graham Potter’s men have now already secured three new signings in the January window – Fofana, Monaco defender Benoit Badiashile, 21, and young Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos, 18.
      However, according to The Mail, Fofana’s childhood side, Abidjan City, have written to Fifa alleging his first professional move to Molde two years ago was “unlawful”.
      The row is the result of a dispute between Abidjan City and Fofana’s mother over whether she signed a consent form for him to join the Norwegian club in 2016.
      At the time, he was just 15 years of age.
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      Club president Marco Taddei wrote: “We, therefore, invite you to intervene with the Chelsea club so that the player’s transfer is suspended until the dispute between the Molde FK club and ourselves is settled.”
      Chelsea insist the player is fully registered with them.
      Fofana, who has been capped three times by Ivory Coast, went on to contribute 24 goals and 10 assists in 65 games for Molde – a run of form which saw him earn his move to Chelsea.
      His arrival comes amid an injury crisis for the Blues as they languish down in 10th place in the Premier League table.
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      Potter has a host of players sidelined including N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount, Ben Chilwell, Edouard Mendy, Reece James, Armando Broja, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Wesley Fofana.
      Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic also went off with problems in the first half of their 1-0 loss to Manchester City on Thursday evening.

      The depletion has seen Chelsea become incredibly active in the January transfer market.
      They are furiously pursuing Benfica and Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez, 21, although his £106m release clause is proving a stumbling block.
      And they are also hoping to hijack Arsenal’s deal for Shakhtar Donetsk forward Mykhailo Mudryk, 22.
      Chelsea have already spent more than £300m since the end of last season.
      Potter’s men face Man City for a second time in three days on Sunday when they travel to the Etihad for an FA Cup third-round clash. More