Reports that Graham Potter is already under intense pressure at Chelsea have gained traction when German national team coach Hansi Flick was spotted at the club.
Head Coach Graham Potter of Chelsea reacts during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Fulham FC (Image: Robin Jones)
Gemany national team boss Hansi Flick was in attendance for Chelsea’s 0-0 home draw against local rivals Fulham on Friday night as speculation over current Blues boss Graham Potter’s future continues.
Potter’s time in the Stamford Bridge hot-seat has underwhelmed so far, with the former Brighton boss failing to inspire any kind of upturn in fortunes following on from predecessor Thomas Tuchel’s reign. Instead, the Blues languish as low as ninth in the Premier League table after 21 games played.
Pressure on Potter has only increased after Chelsea’s astonishing January transfer window spending, which came to a jaw-dropping £323million on nine new players. This follows the eight players they brought in last summer, meaning the stakes are high for the West Londoners.
With one win in his last seven games, the last thing Potter needs is reports suggesting his place could already be under threat as Flick’s name gets linked with what could soon be a vacant Stamford Bridge hot-seat.
Though the board have pledged to give Potter beyond this season to implement his vision for a new Chelsea, with Flick’s own future as Germany boss being called into question, the rumour mill linking him with the Blues job is slowly starting to gear up.
Friday night’s West London derby wasn’t the first time Flick has been pictured watching Chelsea, he was present for last season’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester City to watch a number of German internationals that were in action.
However, this time around there was only one German representative on display in Kai Havertz, which has led some to believe Flick’s visit was potentially part of a meet up with Chelsea’s American owner Todd Boehly.
Hansi Flick was spotted at Chelsea’s most recent home clash
The former Bayern Munich manager certainly boasts a CV befitting of a Chelsea manager, with two Bundesliga titles, a Champions League, a DFB-Pokal and FIFA Club World Cup all under his belt.
Germany’s poor showing at the Qatar World Cup has also placed Flick closer to the exit door, potentially freeing him up for a return to club football. Despite the rumours, Potter spoke last month about how he isn’t fearing for his job in light of the poor form he has overseen.
The Blues boss compared his situation to that of other ‘big six’ managers as he explained: “I think Pep (Guardiola) was (at Manchester City) a year before they’d won anything, and then obviously Mikel (Arteta) and Jurgen (Klopp) took a bit of time.
“But obviously it’s maybe different for me, for some reason. But I don’t put a timescale on it. I know the responsibility we have here.
“But also I know that I am capable, and I know the quality that I have and I have the full support of certainly the owners, the players and the staff here.”
Here’s what some of them have had to say on social media…
@EbereCFC: Yo!! Hansi Flick was in our match last night. If you think he came to watch Havertz, u must be a joker. What are they cooking behind the scene this time?
@Iimocfc: Hansi Flick was at Stamford bridge yesterday, he is sending us signs, i hope Todd is getting the signs/
@Ayize011: I DON’T REALLY KNOW HOW YOU WILL THINK ABOUT THIS, BUT HANSI FLICK IS CFC NEXT MANAGER, I SEE NO REASON FOR HIM BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH A CHELSEA OFFICIAL IN STAMFORD BRIDGE.
@Amirulsimps: Hansi Flick to take over after the Euros.
@sports_yeller: Hansi Flick to Chelsea, Potter to England, Tuchel to Germany. LET’S GO.
@BluesSW6: We need an elite coach, Hansi Flick would be perfect for the job and a long-term project.
@Eleniyan93: But why is Hansi Flick at the stadium yesterday???….Boehly should just act accordingly.
@DebbyChelsea10: Hansi Flick was in attendance today, maybe to replace Potter.
@23nerdTom: AGAIN, What was hansi flick actually doing at stamford bridge guys? Potter’s days are numbered, feel like he has 5 games max to show what he’s left of him. Let’s see how it goes.
source: www.mirror.co.uk
