11 April 2023 , 07:56
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John Obi Mikel believes Graham Potter deserved to be sacked from his role as Chelsea boss - and laughed at the idea of him managing in the Roman Abramovich era.
The 47-year-old was dismissed earlier this month after the Blues' 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa, having won just 12 of his 30 matches in charge. Chelsea sat in 10th when his departure was announced and with very little chance of finishing inside the top-four this season.
However, Potter did guide the Blues into the Champions League quarter-finals. They secured a 2-1 aggregate win over Borussia Dortmund in the last-16 and face Real Madrid in the last-eight first-leg on Wednesday.
There was a slim chance that Potter could win Europe's elite competition in his first season at Stamford Bridge, but Todd Boehly bit the bullet and sacked him after a disappointing run of Premier League results. When asked about Potter's exit, former Chelsea midfielder Mikel felt that the club made the right decision.
Speaking to Dubai Eye radio station, Mikel said: "When you look at that, was he given enough time?' I think so. I think where you look at where the club is now, what is it, 11th in the table?
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"So when you look at it, I think he's been given enough time. If it was the Roman Abramovich era..." Then Mikel decided to burst out laughing at the suggestion Potter could have been in charge during that era, with Abramovich arguably the most brutal at sacking managers.
Mikel added: "So was he given enough time? I think the club made the right decision. Was the club too big for him to manage? Maybe. Because when I look at him sometimes on the touchline he doesn't really know what to do. He's not communicating to the players, he doesn't tell them what to do on the pitch."
Chelsea boss Graham Potter (Getty Images)During his time at Chelsea, Mikel worked under a number of different managers. He was brought in by Jose Mourinho, before being coached by Avram Grant, Luiz Scolari, Guus Hiddink, Carlo Ancelotti, Andre Villas-Boas, Roberto Di Matteo, Rafa Benitez, Mourinho and Hiddink again - and Antonio Conte.
Mikel spent just over a decade at Chelsea and worked with nine different managers - a staggering statistic for a so-called top-six club and the former midfielder has analysed which type of gaffer he preferred.
He continued: "I like a manager who is always motivated, who wants to... who is passionate on the touchline. When they scream at you, they are telling you what to do. Sometimes players need a kick up the backside, to wake up. With Graham, I wasn't seeing that."
Frank Lampard was appointed as interim manager until the end of the season last week, just over two years since he was sacked by Abramovich for similar failings. Mikel has delivered his verdict on Lampard's return.
Mikel concluded: "Also with Frank, I wasn't seeing that [passion]. I hope now he's back, he will be more of a [Jurgen] Klopp or Pep [Guardiola], we see this managers who are always emotional, it's like they want to be on the pitch. I want to see that with Frank when he comes back."