Graham Potter insisted he was 'really happy' with his players' performances following Chelsea's 2-0 defeat by Manchester City in the Carabao Cup third round on Wednesday, claiming his side took a 'step forward' despite the setback.
Two goals in five minutes from Riyad Mahrez and Julian Alvarez early in the second half punished the Blues for missing a catalogue of opportunities before the break, as Pep Guardiola's side advanced to the fourth round of the competition.
The Chelsea manager, who endured successive league defeats by Brighton and Arsenal before heading into the clash at the Etihad, was keen to focus on the signs of improvement after the match.
Potter said during his post-match press conference: 'I thought there were quite a few positives.
'Obviously we are disappointed with the result but in terms of how we played, we created some good chances and there was a better structure and a better performance level.
'The team looked closer to what we want it to look like. The boys had great courage and they tried against a top team.
'Their keeper got the man of the match I think, which tells a bit of the story. But overall I think it was a step forward for us.'
Christian Pulisic and Lewis Hall were both gifted golden opportunities during the first half but ultimately failed to capitalise for Chelsea, due in part to an exceptional performance by Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega.
Whilst focusing on the positives, Potter also addressed Chelsea's lack of final product after the match.
He also admitted the defence 'could have done better' in terms of preventing City's two goals in the second half.
Echoing similar sentiments to Sky Sports, the manager said: '(There was) a lot to like. We created some big chances and attacked well.
'We weren't perfect, but did a lot right in the game. It was a pleasing performance, a step forward in how we want to play.
'I'm disappointed with the result but happy with the performance.
'We had some big chances. You won't get many bigger ones here. We had big courage to try to play out. The boys showed quality and courage. I liked a lot of what we did today.
'We could have done better for their goals. The wall could do better. It's those fine details you can improve but performance-wise I'm really happy.
'Lewis Hall did brilliantly. Fantastic performance. Great quality and effort. He took responsibility. Putting the ball in the net is the hardest thing and that's all he didn't do today.
'I'm always concerned when we don't get results. Our performances haven't been what we wanted in the last couple of games. But today is what we wanted the team to look like. We looked like a good team.'
mukumaphilip
0
is it true Todd boely wants to change chelsea into cow boys fc ?
wow
josilva877
0
Potter built a very good squad in Brighton despite the club is not rich enough to sign expensive player like Chelsea did. After Potter left Brighton, the team is still performing.
u get it right, we need to allow him release those lazy and old player and sign are own players
kopigao
0
we need to take it easy with Potter, that sanction is still affect Chelsea, we fans need to understand that, we something fall is not easy to go back to top level easily. and another thing is this Potter love to build are own squad will brilliant players, Chelsea team have old players and many lazy players that can not last on tempo football like Azplicueta,Koulibaly,Loftus cheek, Jorginho, Ziyech, Harvetz,Aubameyang and Broja. also Tuchel is the cause of it how are u going to think Azplicueta will be a perfect backup for James with that age, why not sign one out of these three players Dumfries, pavard or Jonathan Clues. if am James I will not forgive Tuchel for making me miss world cup, because if Chelsea have one of them James will have more rest. I believe Potter will send all lazy players out this coming summer, let endour this season
Potter built a very good squad in Brighton despite the club is not rich enough to sign expensive player like Chelsea did. After Potter left Brighton, the team is still performing.
haobcdins
0
The problem of Chelsea isn't the couch. The players are responsible for all the success and losses. I personally appealing to the administration to sign next time better players.
zekceimy
2
Though Graham Potter is not the kind of manager or coach who can handle Chelsea because I haven't seen any English coach or manager doing well in this premier league era ( since 1992 premier league introduced) but I personally would blame Thomas Tuchel for current Chelsea problems because most of the players TT brought into Chelsea team don't deserve to be in here, let's be honest. The likes of K2, Raheem Sterling, Cucu, Auba, one way or another are waste. TT ounce brought in Lukaku and see what happened. It's very sad to see Chelsea losing games but on the field you could see many current players need to be offloaded. At least 8-10 players need to say goodbye to Chelsea. I loved TT as manager but don't appreciate the kind of players he brought to Chelsea Fc, almost 90 percent are waste. Some of the blame should go to UK government led by that........ Boris Johnson. Hmmmmmm God Save Chelsea Fc.
Zikacdlsyz
0
He is happy against city team B😂😂😂average coach mentality
city b team vs Chelsea b team. Can you mention Chelsea's senior players that were missing in the game? criticize constructivelyl
Toncenpstz
0
yet TT won us trophies with many of these so call useless players,took us to two finals and a third place finish.he bought the players for him not potter nobody told boehly to fired tuchel.TT took over after lampard would have also spented close to two hundred million or more,but got results with players that he didn't bought.so please stop with all the bullshit excuse for potter.
and yet ur so called tuchel refused to revamp his midfield leaving the ur three central players of jorghinho ,kante ,and kovacic and I remember all of u insulting jorghinho complaining about kovacic and now kante is an injury prone but yet ur lovely tuchel thought Loftus cheek would be fit to replace and now look at what Loftus cheek is playing your so loved tuchel also thought azpilicueta of 35 would be perfect for inform reece James who was injured last season your lovely tuchel couldn't work with a top 9 and instead he used kai instead and now all those fringe players ur lovely tuchel failed to re organise are now left with Mr Potter who hasn't had his squad yet and u all are just saying rubbish.
Toncenpstz
0
Ziyech did fantastic job...He created 2 good chances which were wasted...This man potter subbed him for reasons not known....We need a new coach
u keep saying we need new coach but your chelsea owners won't change him anytime soon no matter how u cry and no matter what u do so I beg u to relax cause I assure u none of this is affecting his job
Toncenpstz
0
we need to take it easy with Potter, that sanction is still affect Chelsea, we fans need to understand that, we something fall is not easy to go back to top level easily. and another thing is this Potter love to build are own squad will brilliant players, Chelsea team have old players and many lazy players that can not last on tempo football like Azplicueta,Koulibaly,Loftus cheek, Jorginho, Ziyech, Harvetz,Aubameyang and Broja. also Tuchel is the cause of it how are u going to think Azplicueta will be a perfect backup for James with that age, why not sign one out of these three players Dumfries, pavard or Jonathan Clues. if am James I will not forgive Tuchel for making me miss world cup, because if Chelsea have one of them James will have more rest. I believe Potter will send all lazy players out this coming summer, let endour this season
I greet u sir u are all correct
josilva877
3
we need to take it easy with Potter, that sanction is still affect Chelsea, we fans need to understand that, we something fall is not easy to go back to top level easily. and another thing is this Potter love to build are own squad will brilliant players, Chelsea team have old players and many lazy players that can not last on tempo football like Azplicueta,Koulibaly,Loftus cheek, Jorginho, Ziyech, Harvetz,Aubameyang and Broja. also Tuchel is the cause of it how are u going to think Azplicueta will be a perfect backup for James with that age, why not sign one out of these three players Dumfries, pavard or Jonathan Clues. if am James I will not forgive Tuchel for making me miss world cup, because if Chelsea have one of them James will have more rest. I believe Potter will send all lazy players out this coming summer, let endour this season
macbers
0
He is happy against city team B😂😂😂average coach mentality
It’s was Chelsea’s B team aswell
Macdgreat
0
If this is how you want for my Chelsea to play, then I’m out until we get better manager 😢😭😭
Bye bye
Macdgreat
0
I totally concur with Potter .I see a great chelsea in the next 2 yrs. The boy Lewis Hall is a super star in the making. I urge all chelsea fans to be patient with this man Potter. We have won all trophies in the world and the aftermath of sanctions placed on Abramovich turned many things at chelsea upside-down. we shld all know that it is not easy for everything to be in order overnight.
Yeah I agree with you too bruh … we are going through a process how do we get better without losses .. obviously you can’t be successful without failures , Chelsea will get better and better plus people are hypocritical now they want potter out after some more couple wins watch how they say he is good
lukblstz
0
Remember that this club has gone through a lot. Running Abromovich out at the very beginning of the season has a whole mental effect on the team. Firing Tuchel also has an effect. How many team have gone through this and still compete? Even UTD tasted it when Fergie resigned. Put this City team in this same situation, they will struggle. Potter is a good coach and over time he will develop the team with the right players. My only concern is l hope these comments Potter makes is just for the media but he should be pounding the table and abusing the fuckoff of those useless players that are not willing to but in the extra for the team else then we have a coach that has no control. l suggest, another sloppy and useless performance again is a 10% salary deduction from both the players and the coaching staff.
Your comments have made my day. .Same explanation I also made above. unlike some fans that don't know anything about football.
lukblstz
1
I totally concur with Potter .I see a great chelsea in the next 2 yrs. The boy Lewis Hall is a super star in the making. I urge all chelsea fans to be patient with this man Potter. We have won all trophies in the world and the aftermath of sanctions placed on Abramovich turned many things at chelsea upside-down. we shld all know that it is not easy for everything to be in order overnight.
lukblstz
0
I'm happy Chelsea is out now.
And me too.
bolaji99
1
He is happy against city team B😂😂😂average coach mentality
Cohlmprstz
0
Chelsea has never left cup by this time I said it before that graham potter is not d man for Chelsea please change him
Man city did not even use there players...did u not watch d match ?
Naeakmnpsz
1
If this is how you want for my Chelsea to play, then I’m out until we get better manager 😢😭😭
holaray
0
I don’t know why England do hype their citizens either players or coaches..
yisabdrtuy
2
Ziyech did fantastic job...He created 2 good chances which were wasted...This man potter subbed him for reasons not known....We need a new coach
kekdeinps
1
Most of you are saying bring TT back…Have you forgotten this same TT bought most of this useless players? You can’t blame potter this players are just useless,potter is not the one to score the goals!!!
yet TT won us trophies with many of these so call useless players,took us to two finals and a third place finish.he bought the players for him not potter nobody told boehly to fired tuchel.TT took over after lampard would have also spented close to two hundred million or more,but got results with players that he didn't bought.so please stop with all the bullshit excuse for potter.
noyadlstz
2
Chelsea thought they were coming to the Etihad to win City, after not not being able to win Arsenal, you were lucky City played with weak teams
Wusaeikoyz
2
get this clown out of my beloved club
Gustavoo
0
2 goals in 5 minutes is a step forward?. Plus we concede goals after the 60 minute mark…you can’t be using the 3-4-3 formation when you don’t have wingbacks,
Mr man is not about the formation! Most of Chelsea players are just useless, look at pulisic and this hall they lost good chances, that match should have ended like 2-1 or 2-2 instead and we go on penalty…so don’t blame potter at all!
Kattyranking
2
this man is confused and useless
Gustavoo
0
Most of you are saying bring TT back…Have you forgotten this same TT bought most of this useless players? You can’t blame potter this players are just useless,potter is not the one to score the goals!!!
Jisbckmuz
0
chelsea could never have beaten city...u only see the chances chelsea missed but u did not see the chances city missed[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
I saw that as well. Mendy did an awesome job. But that's football. GG WP nothing more. If Potter is a good coach he will accept it like "Sometimes you win and sometimes you LEARN." Arogant coaches blame other, and the good ones learn to be better. 🤌
Jisbckmuz
0
Correct, I feel there are some players that we have to let go. I might be wrong but Harvetz, Pulisic and Auba are not doing enough for my liking.
Sadly. Honestly, I'd love to see them buy Osimhen from Napoli, but yea 😄
Jisbckmuz
0
nonsense if he is good he was supposed to play Ziyech, Aubameyang and sterling up front and sup mount and Havertz but if u are insist that he is good coach let's wait and see for the next game he will play that Havertz who creates nothing on the pitch and end up playing Sterling at the wrong position
I agree tbh. But if he wants to make the best out of this opportunity he got, he will have to adopt to the squad and not the other way around. Which I think he will do. But yea, let's see... Thanks for the reply bro
Jisbckmuz
0
Let me tell you how a good coach is, when a coach is appointed at a club he has to first understand and know the type of players he has and understand their style of play so that he knows the philosophy of football to play and it helps to know which formation to go with each time you have a game. Chelsea's key attacking players like Sterling, Pulisic, Ziyech, Aubamiyang, Mount, Harvetz, Kovacic and Zachariah are players you can't use in a 3:4:3 or 3:5:2 formations because their mind of play is always attacking and little defense help. Let me give an example, when Chelsea played against Dynamo Zagreb recently with a 4:3:3 formation they played very well with an outstanding performance of Mount, Zacharia and Harvetz because every player was played in the right position and Mount as the number 10 had a free roam play. another example is of the Manchester United game, Chelsea was outplayed in the first half with the 3:4:3 formation but immediately Potter changed the formation to 4:3:3 the game changed because players were put in the right positions. the other reason why Chelsea is not performing is the coach makes wrong selections each game. Loftus Cheek is a slow and finished player who can't play along Joginoh in important games, secondly Sterling is also played in a wrong position as a Right Wing Back overloading him. He's a pure Left winger who can cause problems for defenders in the box if played in good position. Another thing is of playing Cuculella in a wrong position in the Back 3, he's not a center Cuculella, he's good and versatile when played as a LB in a 4:3:3 formation or as LWB in a 3:4:3 formation. I don't blame Koulibary no, he's a very powerful defender if played alongside Silver in back 4, he's very good but the coach doesn't know how to pair his players. Same for Aubamiyang, if you want him to score you goals then give him two sharp wingers like Sterling and Ziyech who are not selfish then you will appreciate. Start Kepa in goal, bring James in Right Back, put chilwell in Left Back, start Silver and Koulibary at Center Back, bring Joginoh in 6 then put Ziyech in number 7 and Kovacic in 8 then Aubamiyang on 9 put Mount in 10 and Sterling in 11 with a 4:3:3 formation and see how Aubamiyang and Mount will give you goals. As the match goals put Zachariah on Kovacic and Harvetz on Mouth then Pulisic on Sterling. Those crosses Ziyech makes is the type of football Aubamiyang want. Chelsea has a material of players but the type of coaches that come don't know how to use them. These same players if sold are same ones who will be said are doing well in other clubs. Sack Potter and hire an experienced coach like Zidane, Denchamp, Solali, these can bring sweet football at Chelsea again. Potter is not doing anything and at a time he's just destroying the team before you realize it
I agree with you. Potter does not have the experience with leading big clubs. But to study a team and players you have it takes time and a long Summer to prepare, which he did not have. He didn't even expect to be brought in as a Chelsea coach. We can not deny the things he did at Brighton, cuz look at them now, they are still peeforming good undert De Zerbi. He can make something out of these playeres as well. Havertz to me is a headache cuz he does not have a position. Lamps did not know where to play him and niether did Tuchen and Potter as well. But they keep playing him. When it comes to the formation, you are right, you can't play here with 3 in the back, I mean you can, when we think back at how Tuchel organized them so they did not recieve a goal in his first 10+ games or so. Then cool. But up front, it's not good with the players you have. What you said about positioning the players and the formation I agree 100% I would have loved Zidane as coach myself, but it does not guarantee you anything. Look at Tottenham, they play bad and it's their 2nd or 3rd season under a super good coach. Let's see what Potter makes out of this opportunity. If he continues like this he won't come far, but if he adpots to his squad and makes the best out of it, like he did in Brighton, then we can expect an amazing Chelsea with a long term serving coach. Look at Arsenal, Arteta did a great job with the squad, he did not spend too much and he made players, which I would never play like Xhaka, play nice football. But in the begininng it was a horror of a team. I don't think they will win a Title, but it's a nice squad. Thanks for your opinion btw
Molare23
2
Keep on being happy
Wonimrsty
1
All I'm reading here is comments of people who are saying that Potter should get sacked. Did you guys watch the game or the last 5 games? I don't think it's his foult. Why? In every game our attakers underperformed. The were so sloppy and did not know how to put a nice, clean ball into the net. With the City game as well, with the opportunities from Hall and Zyech we could have won 2:3. The defence is bad as well without R.James and Silva. Watch the games again and see for yourself what our team missed in the attack and what kind of mistakes they made in the defence and then talk about who should go. You can not have results immediatelly. The last games under Tuchel were more depressing to watch then these ones. Respect for Tuchel for what he has done, but his style of football does bot favour ant Attacker. The defence scored more goals then our Attack and Mid. At least now you see the boys up there creating some good chances which they just need to score. Maybe you are right about Graham, but I would like to give that man some time. Dude got Kepa back into the squad. He was't so good since back in Athl B. Have a nice day/night guys.
nonsense if he is good he was supposed to play Ziyech, Aubameyang and sterling up front and sup mount and Havertz but if u are insist that he is good coach let's wait and see for the next game he will play that Havertz who creates nothing on the pitch and end up playing Sterling at the wrong position
holluwaseun75
0
Chelsea has never left cup by this time I said it before that graham potter is not d man for Chelsea please change him
So Man city is a joke to you
Wonimrsty
0
is it true Todd boely wants to change chelsea into cow boys fc ?
better to change it because I can't stand Chelsea's name to be in any fools mouth like this
rabdoprz
0
seeing Chelsea going down bcos of UK's wickedness is touching me really bad
you are right UK government already killed Chelsea club
meek11
3
2 goals in 5 minutes is a step forward?. Plus we concede goals after the 60 minute mark…you can’t be using the 3-4-3 formation when you don’t have wingbacks,
koebilnsz
4
seeing Chelsea going down bcos of UK's wickedness is touching me really bad
wizzypounds21
1
Chelsea fans pls give this man sometimes 🙏🏻💙 He can still do better guys 💙💙💙🙏🏻🙏🏻
Kicelnpstu
0
truth is there is improvement in yesterday's game compared to the game against Arsenal and Man U, the players yesterday were at least trying to attack unlike Sterling and Auba that couldn't control ball talkless of making use of it, but some players have to go or benched if we are to move forward, Zakaria, Sterling, Auba, Broja and probably Loftus are not top players 😂 how Chelsea bought Koulibally and Cucurella is beyond me, non of the new boys bought by Bohley really worth their value
Cohlmprstz
1
Chelsea has never left cup by this time I said it before that graham potter is not d man for Chelsea please change him
princeLuiz
1
potter ball is too sweet
S100K
1
We'll see if what you're saying is true when you face Newcastle on Saturday. Better Kovasic else....
Ebie2000
0
It’s the 1st time in my life I feel like I am not a top 6 team
Ebie2000
0
😂🤣😂🤣😂 Todd you knob what have you got us into
Duoabcemo
3
t..t...is..my...coach...not..unless..potter
yabablpruy
2
My under-12 children team can beat the Chelsea team now, awful
fombdeipuy
3
The Chelsea i watched yesterday broke my heart TT said and i quote;at the moment everything is missing
Duoabcemo
1
Potter...must...go...he..must...go..bring our...maneger...back...tuchely
Saubeksuy
0
This guy won't last at chelsea..... u made a big mistake by leaving Brighton