Former Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot has urged Blues chairman Todd Boehly to sack Graham Potter, insisting the manager 'would not have lasted' during his time at the club.
Added pressure piled on Potter after Chelsea's miserable 2-0 defeat at Tottenham last weekend, with several fans voicing their frustration towards the current state of the team, who are sitting 10th in the Premier League and 14 points adrift from the top four.
Despite splashing over £600million across two transfer windows this season, Chelsea have only won nine out of 26 matches under Potter, who has so far been backed by Boehly and the Blues board.
Chelsea's crucial Champions League second leg against Borussia Dortmund next week could well be make or break for Potter, but for now the head coach is preparing his troops for their home clash against relegation-threatened Leeds on Saturday.
Melchiot believes the ex-Brighton boss has been extremely fortunate to avoid the sack so far, claiming that Potter would already be out of the club were he managing in the early 2000s.
'In my time, Graham Potter wouldn't last, that's all I can say,' Melchiot, who represented Chelsea between 1999 and 2004, told ESPN.
'When I was playing, no. I feel sorry for him, I know everyone is talking about him, but with results like this... I have to be sorry and make a change.'
Struggling to score goals since the Premier League restart, Chelsea have suffered 10 defeats in their last 17 matches, all but losing any hope of turning around their poor start to the campaign and qualifying for next season's Champions League.
Winning the decorated European competition this year would be Potter's only chance of qualifying at the end of the season, but his side suffered a 1-0 defeat against Dortmund in the last-16 first leg earlier this month and overturning the loss seems an unlikely prospect.
Chelsea have a history of making successes out of their impatience with managers in the past, profiting from a lack of tolerance under former owner Roman Abramovich.
The club's last Champions League success came directly after axing Frank Lampard from the hotseat - former boss Thomas Tuchel took the reins and went straight on to win the 2020-21 competition.
Similarly, almost a decade earlier, Andre Villas-Boas was sacked after less than a year in charge of the club, handing over responsibility to interim manager Roberto Di Matteo, who went on the lift the Champions League trophy in 2012.
Melchiot made 130 appearances for the club during his five-year stint at Stamford Bridge, before moving on to play for Birmingham, Rennes, Wigan and Qatari outfit Umm Salal.
NnasomPaulis
0
Abrahimovic is missed
cuaaclosuy
0
do you think Abramovic will sign this dump coach...???
Don't comment anything if you didn't get him clearly.
Rababcmnru
0
do you think Abramovic will sign this dump coach...???
bossmanog
0
Potter must stay
Mombikluz
0
Potter should leave the club before being sacked because it is imminent
stupid tough
Limaelpty
1
potter must go
sesbkmot
0
boss it's true mast go go oooo chikala choba
sesbkmot
0
bonsa babili nachi Todd nachinakwa fipuba
sesbkmot
0
rubbish coach potter
sesbkmot
0
Todd boehly prz prz and prz fared thes rubbish
Jordon4u
2
Potter must stay !!😅😆😆
Jusbdlmrty
1
Potter should leave the club before being sacked because it is imminent
lusdloprsz
0
Potter is not going anywhere, the attitude of the players are not good at all, the reaction of the players are very low the players should play with determination for victory and stop waiting for Potter to be sack because no pressure can kick Graham Potter out because the owner likes his work at Brighton.
That should tell u the coach is bad before Eric ten hug united was having the same problem u are talking about but now look at the difference
nuyadilouy
0
Potter is not going anywhere, the attitude of the players are not good at all, the reaction of the players are very low the players should play with determination for victory and stop waiting for Potter to be sack because no pressure can kick Graham Potter out because the owner likes his work at Brighton.
because the coach is bad.
Zetacdelsy
0
sack this fool we are tired
Give him time pls
deeikp
0
What about the players don’t they have responsibility to perform. I cannot remember the last time we scored a goal. A team like Southampton get a goal and we cannot reply. The same for B D and spurs
Mimiklnot
1
sack this fool we are tired
deeikp
0
It’s clear as day and everyone has seen that Potter is not the right coach for Chelsea, but the owners are as clueless as the manager himself. If Abrahamovic still own the club, this guy wouldn’t have been hired in the first place. The best result we will get at Leeds in a draw, we will lose to Dortmund. With upcoming fixtures, we will be battling relegation come April. This hurts so bad, and the worst part is Bohley and co care less about how the supporters feel. You never know the importance of a shade until the tree is cut down. Tuchel and Abrahamovic are being missed by Chelsea fans right now. Just sad and disappointing the level our beloved team has reached now.
What about the players do they have a responsibility to perform? I saw the game against Southampton, the worse team in the league and we start the game by letting them built confidence by seating back at home, they scored a goal and they win the game
nukaelprt
0
Potter should go
wiabcersy
0
Potter is not going anywhere, the attitude of the players are not good at all, the reaction of the players are very low the players should play with determination for victory and stop waiting for Potter to be sack because no pressure can kick Graham Potter out because the owner likes his work at Brighton.
Heacekmry
0
Uyanya lo why can't he find coaching job somewhere then we see he's able
cukabdelor
1
This Potter must go....
vawaceknry
1
What a hard pain from the form Chelsea player I really like your talk
fourthorty430
0
Oil dey your head
sisabeisy
1
This boehly he's a failed project at Chelsea he doesn't deserve to be the owner
Reyeiklnps
0
that Man is using money to blind everyone to not understand that he want to bring down the legacy of Chelsea Money is not love period...
Noheimprsu
2
Mr Mario please tell him blind owner the worst owner in Chelsea history
sesbkmot
2
thank you my legend
weodiknu
1
it's hard to manage satan
Johnmechediez2018
2
That’s man
seeadmpsz
0
Wat is up with the football team we all know chelsea fc that is why have they still got this manager potter in charge hes an absolute joke give him the sack and kick him out the door good riddance we need José Mourinho to manage Chelsea again please he was the best ever
kewbcdiors
0
Chelsea pockets are holed. they will become torn rugs if potter 5 contract get terminated
abhuehsaan
1
guess, boehly romantically in love with potter
blueboysami
1
It’s clear as day and everyone has seen that Potter is not the right coach for Chelsea, but the owners are as clueless as the manager himself. If Abrahamovic still own the club, this guy wouldn’t have been hired in the first place. The best result we will get at Leeds in a draw, we will lose to Dortmund. With upcoming fixtures, we will be battling relegation come April. This hurts so bad, and the worst part is Bohley and co care less about how the supporters feel. You never know the importance of a shade until the tree is cut down. Tuchel and Abrahamovic are being missed by Chelsea fans right now. Just sad and disappointing the level our beloved team has reached now.
Kidalnotz
0
I need answers to why this failed Potter is still the coach of Chelsea fc
cuyklmnpt
0
Chelsea will not even sign him if he was still in charge
Zuobdeipz
3
Thank you my legend
ClemJay
4
Abrahimovic is missed