Graham Potter reacts to Chelsea fans chanting about Tuchel after FA Cup exit increases pressure on boss
Chelsea were knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round on Sunday when they lost to Manchester City, giving Graham Potter more pressure to deal with.
Potter took the reins as Chelsea manager in September after the dismissal of Thomas Tuchel. The former Brighton boss initially made a decent impression at Stamford Bridge. However, things took a turn for the worse just before the World Cup.
Since the action has resumed, Chelsea have beaten Bournemouth, drawn with Nottingham Forest, and then suffered consecutive defeats to Manchester City in the Premier League and FA Cup respectively.
During Sunday’s defeat at the Etihad Stadium, sections of the away support began chanting about Potter’s predecessor, Tuchel.
It has only heightened the focus on the risk Potter is under, just months after taking the Chelsea job.
Responding to the noise from the crowd, Potter told his post-match press conference: “We can’t do anything apart from do our jobs better and work harder.
“We understand the supporters’ frustration, that is understandable and we’ll respect that.
“Our job is to do our jobs, to keep working, see the situation for what it is, and of course there are always other opinions, negativity and criticism because the results haven’t been positive. That’s part of the job and the challenge.”
Assessing the game overall, he said: “I thought we were second best to a very good side. Obviously, we’re not in a great moment ourselves and even though it was a cagey first 20 minutes we couldn’t attack the backline well enough or attack as well as we’d like.
“Manchester City did really well in terms of stopping us do that but at the same time, we struggled.
“It’s a fantastic first goal in terms of a strike from a free-kick and then there was the strange penalty and it’s then 2-0. We then had to chase the ball against Man City and we were caught between trying to commit more men forward and not being opened up. The first half was painful and tough for us all.
“The second half we had to respond and I thought there were some positives there in terms of the young players. I thought they gave everything and showed their quality.
“But in the end we’re disappointed because we’ve gone out of the competition. Congratulations Man City, they deserved to win of course. We’re disappointed because we’ve gone out.”
Graham Potter provides Chelsea injury updates
Chelsea were without Christian Pulisic, Raheem Sterling and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the trip to Manchester.
Explaining their absences, Potter said: “Christian opened up his knee in the game the other day. We’re still sorting of analysing it but it’s going to be weeks I would say for him.
“Raheem had an action in the first minute of the game, a back heel that was a bit strange and felt something in his hamstring. Again we’re analysing that.
“Aubameyang had a tight back yesterday so was unable to travel.”
The next chance Chelsea will have to turn things around will be when they travel to Fulham on Thursday.
