LAST UPDATE | 25 Feb 2023
CHELSEA HAVE PROMISED to offer Graham Potter whatever support he needs after the manager was sent emails threatening him and his family.
Potter said he had been targeted by an anonymous account in the wake of the team’s recent poor form, which continued with a 1-0 home defeat by Southampton last Saturday.
Afterwards some supporters behind the dugout at Stamford Bridge called for the manager to leave, with the atmosphere turning increasingly hostile as the game wore on. Personal attacks on social media have also increased following the loss to Saints, but those have now escalated to threats being sent to him directly.
Potter, who has said previously that he believes he has the hardest job in football, was nevertheless visibly upbeat ahead of his team’s trip to Tottenham on Sunday, joking that he was late as he had been at a “crisis meeting” with the club’s owners.
He spoke of the toll that recent months have taken on him personally, and bullishly rejected accusations that a calm demeanour in the face of adversity means he does not care about the club.
“If you go to work and somebody’s swearing abuse at you, it’s not going to be pleasant,” said Potter. “You can answer it two ways. I could say I don’t care, but you know I’m lying. Everyone cares what people think, because we’re hardwired to be socially connected.
“I want to succeed here. There’s nonsense (being said) that I don’t care. Where does that come from? Where’s your evidence on that? Ask my family. People have a perception I don’t care – what’s that based on? How do you know?
“You could ask my family how life has been for me and for them. It’s been not pleasant at all. I understand supporters go home and they’re annoyed because the team aren’t winning. But I assure you, my life for the last three or four months has been fairly average.
“I’ve had some not particularly nice emails come through, that want me to die and want my kids to die. That’s obviously not pleasant to receive. If you’ve been asked for four months if you’re under pressure, because (the media) need to sell stuff – what do you expect, in the end?
You know there’s a problem when the email address it’s been sent from is ‘Potter b****** at Gmail dot com’.”
Potter will be without his captain Cesar Azpilicueta for the Spurs game after he was knocked unconscious during the defeat by Southampton. The 33-year-old was taken to hospital but was discharged on Tuesday to continue his recovery at the club’s Cobham training base.
Long-term absentees Christian Pulisic and N’Golo Kante are training with the squad but neither is ready to return, though there were reports this week that the latter, out of contract in the summer, is close to agreeing a deal to remain at the club.
The manager has an otherwise-full squad to choose from as he looks to lift Chelsea out of a slump that has seen them win just twice in 14 games.
While Potter acknowledged that only wins will turn the tide of opinion, he was determined not to buckle under the weight of abuse.
“Life is tough for lots of people,” he said. “No one really wants to care about Premier League managers. Sometimes life isn’t fair.
It’s not like I’m complaining about it. You ask me is it hard, I say yes it is hard. You suffer. You get upset. When you’re in private, you show real emotion with your family.
“There’s a point to be considered, but the world is tough. We’re going through an energy crisis, a cost of living crisis. People are striking every other week. No one wants to hear about the poor old Premier League manager.
“My job is to act how I think I should act in the best way for Chelsea, act with integrity that is right for me. I don’t want to be anybody else. I don’t want to be fake. I’ll be me, and I’ll do my best. If my best isn’t good enough, I accept that.”
There is no room for that. Regardless how he is doing.
Shocking carry on. Some football fans are absolute tools
@James horgan: You’re wrong. It’s too many.
There are some sick individuals out there. Social media is a toxic cesspit
Chelsea ‘fans’ doing Chelsea things.
@Martin Malone: this is not just an issues with Chelsea fans, just look at the situation with Everton. Unfortunately some sport fans think the team they support should win every game and if that is not happening they think the person in charge must be sacked, when they don’t see that person freaking out due to loss or series of losses they think the manger doesn’t care, then think that means they must threaten the manager with physical violence and when that still is not enough to get the manager to react a certain way they threaten the family. You see and hear about similar in a number of sports but football at all levels appears to be amongst the worst. Go to an under age kids match and listen to some of the parents going completely nuts at ref or manager over simple things.
@Peter: yep it really is. Have lived in London/Surrey for 30 years and their fans are up there with Millwall, a delight (not). Actually Millwall like a scrap, but dont usually get involved in Racism etc so much…
Shocking. The majority of football fans are brainless
@James horgan: the majority? I don’t think so.
@James horgan: in fairness it is a small minority.
@Brian Dunne: You’re too generous Brian. It is too many fans. You surely must know what levels football fans stoop to when they don’t get what they want.
@Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O’Chathail: from old trafford to dalymount park I’ve been to many matches over the years and the absolute vast majority of people at the match just want to enjoy the game with friends.
@Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O’Chathail: it is a societal problem, football is just the conduit they are using. If it wasn’t that it would be something else. I remember gerald mccarthy getting similar hassle when he wouldn’t resign as cork hurling manager during the player’s strike. There are tens of thousands people going to matches every week. 99.9% of them acting like normal fans won’t get a headline. A handful of people doing this will.
That is mental, seems a very decent fella too. The stupidity of some soccer supporters is incredible! Happy happy very good excellent superb. Brilliant. Really happy
Yup, that be Chelsea….
Bad form
He shud have stayed where he was, he was doing well, I reckon he’ll be out of a job soon but I’m sure he won’t starve