Graham Potter teases Thomas Tuchel

Almost six months after taking office as Chelsea FC coach, Graham Potter publicly criticized his predecessor Thomas Tuchel.

At a Blues press conference on Friday, the Englishman launched a sweeping attack on the German, suggesting that the club’s poor performances could also be down to their training.

“I spoke to some experienced players, they told me it was the worst preparation they’ve ever done.” Potter was referring to Tuchel’s summer preparations, who did not start the 2022/23 season with the Londoners as well as hoped.

Potter was also critical of the trip to the USA before the start of the season: “Organizationally, the tour didn’t work as well as you would have liked. I wasn’t there, so I can’t say for sure.”

Tuchel was released from Chelsea at the beginning of September last year. At that time, the Blues were sixth in the Premier League table, while the Londoners had previously suffered a 1-0 defeat at the start of the competition at Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League.

He was succeeded by Potter, who was bought out of his contract with Brighton and Hove Albion for a lot of money. Things aren’t going much better under the Englishman either, Chelsea have won just two of their last 14 games and are only tenth in the Premier League. In the Champions League, after the 1-0 defeat at Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the round of 16, there is a risk of an early end.

Chelsea meet Tottenham and Leeds in their next two league games before the second leg against Borussia Dortmund on 7 March. Three wins are almost mandatory. In the league, the gap to the international places is already ten points. And if you lose or draw against BVB, the season in Europe’s premier class is over.