Potter Needs More Time At Chelsea — Guardiola

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has insisted that Graham Potter needs more time at Chelsea amid increasing pressure on the Blues boss following their FA Cup exit.

The Blues exited this season’s Emirates FA Cup after a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

It was a particularly poor performance from Chelsea, who managed just one shot on target in the match, with fans heard chanting the name of a former boss, Thomas Tuchel, during the second half.

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The Blues have won just one of their last eight matches in all competitions in a wretched run that’s seen them get knocked out of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup as well as slip down to tenth in the Premier League.

Commenting on the humiliating defeat, Potter said:“I can understand their [the fans’] anger. They’re supporters of Chelsea, they’re used to better than this, and I can understand their position.

“All I know is that we’re working really, really hard. We’re in a tough moment and I think if we want to accomplish anything sometimes there’s going to be a struggle and that’s clearly what we’re in.

“That’s the challenge for us all, to try and stick together. I acknowledge the feelings of the supporters and I understand them.”

But Guardiola has called for patience and insisted that the former Brighton boss needs to be given more time to turn things around.

“I would say to Todd Boehly, give him time,” Guardiola was quoted on talkSPORT. “I know in big clubs, results are important but I’d say give him time.

“The second half is what he is. What he’s done at Brighton is outstanding, but… we need time in the first season. I had (Lionel) Messi in Barcelona my first season so I didn’t need two seasons because Messi was there.”