Chelsea board ‘right’ to back Graham Potter with transfers despite top four ‘problem’

The Chelsea board are backing Graham Potter despite poor form from the Blues this season.
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Paul Merson believes Chelsea are ‘behind the eight ball’ as they look to secure a top four spot, but he believes the Blues are right to back Graham Potter.

It has been a frustrating season so far for Chelsea, who can’t seem to manage a long stretch of consistency. Thomas Tuchel paid the price early on, and Graham Potter hasn’t fared much better since taking over. The Blues are currently eighth, seven points off the top four following their frustrating draw with Nottingham Forest.

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Despite the poor start to the season, which comes after heavy investment in the summer, the Chelsea board are continuing to invest this winter, hoping Potter can dig the club - and indeed himself - out of a hole with the right level of backing in the January window.

And that’s a good decision from the board at Stamford Bridge, according to Paul Merson, who told SportsKeeda: “I think Chelsea are right to back Graham Potter, 100%. They look like they will be buying young players he can make even better, so he will be given a chance."

There is still plenty of football to be played between now and the end of the season, but Chelsea face an uphill battle to land a Champions League spot, and assessing the race, Merson added: “The only problem is that Newcastle and Arsenal have thrown a spanner in the works. They have started so well those two teams, that Chelsea are behind the eight ball and fighting for the top four.

"There is so much competition. I mean, they [Chelsea] are nearly 20 points behind Arsenal! Erik Ten Hag has got Manchester United playing this season. And Liverpool are going to come back into it as well."

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Chelsea will be expecting to at least compete for the top four between now and the end of the season, and the level of investment approved by the board will surely be a double-edged sword for Potter. On one hand, he will get the weapons he wants to improve on current efforts, but equally, if results don’t improve, the board will have sufficient ammunition to end the Potter experiment early.