05 April 2023 , 10:10
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Kai Havertz admitted that Graham Potter ’s sacking was “frustrating” in what appears to be a clear message to the Chelsea board.
The former Brighton head coach was sacked by the Blues on Sunday after just six months in charge at Stamford Bridge. Having originally put pen to paper on a five-year deal, he became the second managerial casualty of the Todd Boehly era.
Potter, 47, had struggled during his stint in West London after winning just 12 of his 31 matches in charge in all competitions - a run of form that has seen the Blues fall out of contention for a place in the Champions League. Whilst it may prove to be the correct decision to jettison Potter, it appears that he still had support within the dressing room at Chelsea.
Speaking after the Blues’ 0-0 draw with Liverpool on Tuesday evening, Havertz hinted at his disgruntlement with the decision to sack Potter. He said: “First of all, I have to say it is really nice and we have to respect Bruno and the coaching staff for standing in front of the team when the manager got the sack.
“The club has to respect those guys. But it is not our job to think about who is coming in, it is up to the owners to decide that.
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“We have to do our job on the pitch but when you have a manager long-term it is easier for us players. It is not nice, we have to take responsibility for what is going on. We are at the front, everyone sees us. We are all very frustrated to see Graham go but we have to accept the situation.”
Kai Havertz has given his response to Graham Potter's Chelsea exit (Getty Images)Did Chelsea make the right decision to sack Graham Potter? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Whilst Havertz appeared to be somewhat diplomatic in his response to Potter’s exit, the same cannot quite be said of Gary Neville. The Manchester United icon took aim at Boehly for choosing not to attend the Blues’ draw with Liverpool in the aftermath of his decision.
He said: "I think if you’re an owner of a football club, Todd Boehly seems to have gone missing in the last few days all of a sudden now the manager’s been sacked.
"He’s been prominent all season calling it a long-term project, now all of a sudden we’re seeing Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart quite a lot in the last few days. Obviously Winstanley was with Graham Potter at Brighton and look, I don’t think we’re surprised by the sacking but if you’re going to sack someone you must have been thinking about in the last two or three weeks.”
The American will no doubt be hard at work attempting to find a permanent successor for Potter before the end of the season. Former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann has emerged as an obvious candidate for the Blues.
Luis Enrique could also be considered by Boehly. The Spaniard finds himself out of work after leaving his role as the Spain head coach after a disappointing World Cup campaign in Qatar.