Graham Potter Chelsea latest: Linked managerial replacement wants return “as soon as possible”

Graham Potter is under increasing pressure at Chelsea and several managers have already been linked to the job at Stamford Bridge should he leave.

The 47-year-old has not won any of his last six games in charge of Chelsea, losing the last three, and his job is being considered as potentially ‘make or break’ heading into the clashes against Leeds United and Borussia Dortmund.

Should Chelsea fail to win either game on Saturday and Tuesday, Potter’s job could be in jeopardy, with claims stating that some feel there would be ‘no way back’ for the Blues boss.

Potter is ware that if results continue to worsen then it will leave the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership with a decision on their hands despite the hierarchy repeatedly backing him throughout the difficult periods this season.

“There is always that question, absolutely, and you can’t stop the questions,” responded Potter following Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Spurs last Sunday.

“While results are what they are, I accept it. It’s part of the job. We were talking before the game about watching the Arsenal All or Nothing and two years into Mikel [Arteta’s] reign he is close to getting the sack and people want him out. It was seen as a disaster but things have now changed a bit.

“If you look at Jurgen (Klopp’s) situation, they haven’t got the results and all of a sudden people want him out. That is the nature of football. I haven’t done enough at this club to have too much good faith; I also accept that.

“My job isn’t to worry about that too much. I understand the question and where it comes from, but I have to try to focus on keeping on helping the team and supporting the players.

“I really like these players, they’re good lads. They want to do better and want to win. But at the moment we’re suffering and that is my responsibility.”

One manager who has been linked with Chelsea is Luis Enrique, the former boss of Barcelona and most recently Spain, a position he left after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in December.

He is wanting to get back into management ‘as soon as possible’, and should Potter get the axe in west London, he could be a credible option for Chelsea if they are interested in the Spaniard.

“Luis Enrique is a top coach and it’s normal to see his name around for many jobs,” wrote Fabrizio Romano in his CaughtOffside column.

“At the moment, he’s not in conversation with any club yet,” Romano said.

“What I can say for sure is that Luis Enrique wants to return as soon as possible after the World Cup and he’d love to be back at work in the next months, he doesn’t want to stop.”