Sacking Graham Potter Would Blow Up Todd Boehly’s Plan For Chelsea

Chelsea, in the words of its head coach, is “suffering”.

Graham Potter admitted as much when speaking after Chelsea lost 2-1 at Fulham on Thursday, Jan 12. The result leaves the Blues 10^th in the Premier League, 10 points outside the Champions League qualification places.

Potter was only appointed in September – on a five-year contract – but is already under pressure at a club where expectations are high. Chelsea has won just one of its last seven Premier League matches. It is also out of the domestic cup competitions – the FA Cup and League Cup – after losing to Manchester City in both.

Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly will do everything he can to avoid sacking Potter. Boehly led a consortium which bought Chelsea for $3.09 billion from sanctioned Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich in May. He came with a plan and, at least in the world of elite soccer, it was a long-term one.

Boehly is new to soccer but not professional sports. He was one of the investors who bought into Major League Baseball team Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012 and is credited with playing a key role in the team’s subsequent success.

Since the sale, the Dodgers have become one of the most successful, and highest spending, baseball franchises. The apex for Boehly and the team came in 2020, when the Dodgers won the World Series for the first time in 32 years.

At Chelsea, Boehly is not only one of the investors, he is the public face of the ownership. He is chairman and was, until this week, interim sporting director. His first big decision was a controversial one – sacking previous head coach Thomas Tuchel.

The German was well-liked by Chelsea fans, not least because he guided the club to the Champions League trophy in 2021. During the 4-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, Jan. 8, Chelsea fans could be heard singing Tuchel’s name.

Potter is Boehly’s man.

“He is a proven coach and an innovator in the Premier League who fits our vision for the club,” Boehly said after appointing Potter.

Potter is a modern coach who has a reputation for developing young players and embracing data and analytics while playing attractive soccer. He did an excellent job at Brighton and Hove Albion and, while sacking Tuchel was highly questionable, Potter seemed a sensible appointment for a long-term project.

The problem is Chelsea fans expect success now. Chelsea spent lavishly on players under Abramovich, winning 21 trophies in the 19 years he owned the club. After a shaky start under the new owners, there is precious little patience for talk of five-year plans. Boehly will feel he has to keep faith with Potter. His judgment since entering soccer has already been questioned and he needs to show Potter was the right call.

Chelsea has spent more than £300 million ($366m) on 14 new players under the new ownership. More than half are young players for the future, but of the more experienced signings, none could be called a big success at this stage.

Appointing himself interim sporting director was also not well received, leading to snarky suggestions Boehly was “playing Football Manager” – a computer game where players take charge of a club. Chelsea has since bought in Christopher Vivell as technical director and Paul Winstanley as director of global talent and transfers.

There are reasons to suggest Chelsea will improve this season. The club has been unfortunate with injuries and currently has 11 first team players unavailable. This includes the experienced N’Golo Kante and new signings Raheem Sterling and Wesley Fofana.

The loan signing of João Félix, an exciting attacker yet to fulfil his great potential, may prove shrewd (Chelsea will however be without Félix for three matches after he was sent off on debut at Fulham).

Chelsea also has a Round of 16 Champions League tie with Borussia Dortmund coming up and, with more than half the Premier League season remaining, a top four challenge is not off the table.

Things can change quickly in soccer and with a few good results Potter may again look like the man to lead Chelsea into a bright future.

The longer the poor form continues though, the more pressure will mount on Potter –and Boehly. Lose at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday, Jan. 15, and Boehly will face a stark choice: back Potter to turn it around in the face of growing supporter unrest, or blow up the plan after five months and start again.