‘On a knife-edge’ – Jamie Carragher talks up Graham Potter sack at Chelsea as exit timeline emerges
Jamie Carragher still believes Graham Potter is facing the sack at Chelsea inspite of overseeing a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund that seemingly eases the pressure and books their place in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The Blues boss has walking a narrow tightrope for some weeks now in the wake of an alarming run of form. Indeed, just two wins in their 12 games immediately after the World Cup break seemingly put his job in jeopardy.
And with Chelsea supporters seemingly turning against him, it just seemed a matter of when not if Potter would be fired.
Indeed, a number of high-profile candidates were starting to emerge as potential replacements. To that end, this report identified five candidates under consideration at Stamford Bridge.
Either way, Potter was very much a man under pressure going into their latest round of fixtures. And with Chelsea needing nothing less than two wins from games against Leeds and Dortmund, he will have been a relieved man come final whistle on Tuesday.
Goals from Raheem Sterling and a twice-taken Kai Havertz penalty were enough to see the Blues beat the Bundesliga title challengers.
And a place in the last eight of the competition will revive hopes they can still enjoy trophy success this season.
However, despite a perceived release of pressure, Carragher is adamant that Potter remains on borrowed time.
To that end, he claims his job remains on a ‘knife edge’ and still believes he faces the sack before too long.
And, in trying to explain when the axe might fall, Carragher is adamant that Potter won’t be at the helm come next season.
READ MORE: Chelsea identify new manager target who’d add insult to injury for struggling Graham Potter
Carragher reveals when he thinks Potter faces Chelsea sack
And even if they go all the way in Europe, Carragher says even that might not save him from the sack.
“The fans aren’t going to change after one game but I think this gives him time to get them on board,” he told CBS Sports. “He’s going to be there until the end of the season now.
“There were questions a few days ago as journalists were getting fed information from the club that he could be on a knife-edge.
“He’s won both games and that will be massive for him. Once you get to the Champions League quarter-finals, you’re almost at the end of the season so they’re not going to change it.
“They’re not going to make the top four in terms of league position but [the Champions League] could be the way they make it. They have got great pedigree when you think of the history they’ve got in European competition. That cements [Potter] until the end of the season, but whether he’s there next season or not? I still don’t think he will be.”
Potter’s appointment cost Chelsea a record compensation cost of £22m in luring him from Brighton. And it could set them back another £50m payout were they to end his time early, according to reports.
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Potter gets a chance to progress at Chelsea
Chelsea next face three Premier League games against sides in the bottom half of the table. That run begins with a match at Leicester on Saturday, before they tackle Everton and then Aston Villa.
Three more wins can help the Blues gain real momentum. However, five straight wins in a row might just ease the pressure on Potter too.
Nonetheless, Carragher insists the manager at Chelsea will always face these sort of questions.
Potter himself was certainly feeling a little more relaxed after the win on Tuesday evening.
“There was always going to be those kinds of questions and noise,” said Potter after victory over Dortmund. “My job is to prepare the team as best we could and support them. They’ve been suffering, nobody has enjoyed the run we’ve had, that’s why today was important.”
Reflecting on the win overall, Potter continued: “A fantastic atmosphere, a fantastic evening. The players were tremendous, the supporters were tremendous.
“They had to be against a team that was doing so well. I think over the two games we deserved to go through, it was a special night.”
