"In this tournament, nothing is easy. Each job has different responsibilities and challenges," Graham Potter said a week before the Premier League started this season. After only 6 rounds, he moved from Brighton to Chelsea. After more than 3 years of "living in peace" with Brighton, it is time for Potter to take the first step in the storm.
Potter said, a team with more money means more problems. The case of this strategist is quite similar to David Moyes (to Manchester United from Everton), Brendan Rodgers (to Liverpool from Swansea City) and Mauricio Pochettino (to Tottenham Hotspur from Southampton). Every time they change jobs, they have to face bigger challenges than the majority.
Potter is living in an era of financial gaps and the potential of teams like Brighton cannot reach the level of Chelsea (except for cases like Newcastle). At Brighton, how long will Potter be able to play in the Champions League? Therefore, Chelsea's invitation was almost undeniable.
Taking on the new assignment is clearly flashy, but the risk is of course greater if Potter looks at Tuchel's case. The British tactician is Chelsea's 15th manager since Roman Abramovich took over in 2003. 14 before Potter, none of them have survived more than 3 and a half years at Stamford Bridge. Only Jose Mourinho has surpassed the 2-year gap twice.
Each boss creates visions and strategies for coaches after each season. Will Potter feel dangerous as Chelsea are the team that spends the most this summer but Tuchel is still fired quickly?
When he was at Brighton, Potter followed Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp's path. He wants the team to set goals that are true to their ability, not dreamy. From Mourinho to Tuchel, everyone has been given a lot of money by Chelsea's owners. Will internal strength and strategy ever appear at this club, even as Boehly said a few months ago?
Chelsea are currently having problems in management when senior figures under the Abramovich era have left Stamford Bridge one by one. Boehly's team is of course less experienced at Chelsea and has not been able to form a leadership with enough people in each seat.
The only thing that can comfort Potter is that when Chelsea sacked and appointed Tuchel, this team somewhat thought about the two words "Strategy". Chelsea will not bet on the achievements of each season depending on the transfer issue in the near future.
Depending on each player market makes it difficult for Chelsea's previous coaches to travel long term. With no long-term vision, the Blues' performance could be affected. Except for Tuchel's Champions League title last year, between 2014 and before that, the Blues have only reached the round of 16 of the Champions League twice, winning only 2/12 of their most recent Premier League titles.
Chelsea's appointment Potter is not allowed to have the same color as Andre Villas-Boas or Frank Lampard, who are temporary. The Potter luggage to the Blues' Cobham training ground is four assistants who have worked together at Brighton. Potter's story is similar to Newcastle's Eiddie Howe, who has gone from mid-table strategists to a team with huge financial potential. Howe has chosen to go slowly, build teamwork for the club and is having certain successes, Potter may follow. The only difference is that Chelsea have played more league matches, so the intensity of Potter's work since the early days is certainly heavier than Howe.
Tuchel has failed to build a squad according to his own philosophy, quite similar to the case of Maurizio Sarri. The Blues' current players are not brought in by Potter (except Cucurella), so it will take a long time for the English coach to change everything in the right direction. If Chelsea's owners use a short-term strategy, Potter cannot do it.
