Jason Cundy slams Graham Potter over management of Chelsea’s January signing

Chelsea boss Graham Potter has been criticised for how he has managed winter signing David Datro Fofana.

Fofana joined the Blues from Molde for around £10million, and he was signed as a product for the future, though it’s also hoped the forward can make an impact when called upon in the short-term. So far, the youngster has made two appearances in the Premier League and one appearance in the FA Cup.

The problem for Fofana is that he finds himself in a very bloated Chelsea squad, and opportunities are going to be hard to come by amid the presence of a number of new signings, many of which commanded fees of tens of millions. But according to former Chelsea defender turned pundit Cundy, Potter has done Fofana no favours.

“He played against Manchester City in the FA Cup in a difficult game. I thought he did alright when he came on,” Cundy said on talkSPORT. “I thought against Southampton in the first half he did alright. Potter took him off at half time. He’s only 20. I don’t know what that does to a player. You’re playing up top at Chelsea, first big game at Stamford Bridge, and you get taken off at half time.”

Explaining the substitution, Potter said after the game: “To use Raheem [Sterling] really. We wanted to use Raheem in the wide areas and that was the decision. It was a tricky one for David – I thought he had one really good action – and it wasn’t a reflection on him. It was more tactical to use Raheem”

It will have been a tough one to take for Fofana, but he will be well aware of how difficult it is going to be to get minutes at Chelsea at this stage of his career, and it won’t be surprise if he finds himself on loan next season.