Three days ago, Chelsea lost 0:1 at home to City in the Premier League, but the cup duel was a much more precise matter. The Londoners have had just one shot on target, been toothless and suffered their sixth defeat in their last eight competitive matches.
“Operating in the Premier League is always a challenge. If you look at the results and performance of our team, it’s very different from our last opponents. It’s clear. We have to focus on the next day, the next game,” said Potter, lamenting the still about ten injured props.
The Blues took over in September after the surprise end of Thomas Tuchel, who was a fan favorite and was mentioned several times during Chelsea’s match against City. At the same time, Potter was booed at halftime, when the guests were already losing 0:3.
“We can only do our job better and harder. Of course, there will always be other opinions, negativity and criticism because the results are not positive. It is part of our profession. You can make excuses and find reasons or just say we’re not good enough at the moment. Both of these answers are correct, so we need to keep improving and stick together. We are suffering as a club and it’s not good at all” Potter honestly admitted.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has also been questioned about his counterpart. A man who, since his days at Barcelona, Bayern Munich or the English giants, knows what it’s like to play under pressure and answer for the slightest hesitation.
“I would tell Chelsea owner Todd Boehly to give Potter time. I know results are important at big clubs. But all managers need time. Only in Barcelona I didn’t need two seasons because I had Lionel Messi” Guardiola he moderated his emotions.
However, he himself has reason to be happy in recent days, Chelsea have clearly been able to overcome even if they have left their biggest attacking stars Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland or Ilkay Gündogan, goalkeeper Ederson or defenders John Stones and Nathan Aky on the bench.
“A great performance from the first minute to the last minute. We managed an incredibly intense game against a top-class team,” he said. “Guardiola deserves huge credit, whoever he puts on, the players can immediately adapt to the system,” praised ex-City defender Micah Richards.
