Chelsea head coach Graham Potter has, on Friday, provided an insight into the disgusting extent of the abuse with which he has been forced to contend at the hands of members of the club’s fanbase of late.
Potter, of course, has come in for widespread criticism for his recent efforts on the touchline in west London.
This comes as – despite a record-breaking January outlay on the part of owner Todd Boehly – the Blues continue to struggle for form in a major way.
All told, since the turn of the year, Potter has guided his side to just a solitary win from ten attempts.
A home defeat at the hands of Premier League basement-dwellers Southampton last weekend, though, appeared to prove the straw which broke the camel’s back when it comes to the patience of many of a Blues persuasion.
A chorus of audible boos and jeers rained down on the club’s boss on the back of the full-time whistle at Stamford Bridge, as calls for Potter to be sent on his way by the board reached an all-time high.
Speaking to the media on Friday, Potter opened up on just some of the frankly abhorrent abuse directed at both he and his family, with some so called ‘fans’ having gone as far as to wish death upon the Englishman’s children:
“It’s a challenge”, Potter began. “If you go to work and somebody is swearing abuse at you, it’s not going to be pleasant – or if you’re referred to as the worst person in the history of the club. You can say, ‘oh I don’t care’ but you know I’m lying because everyone does care what people think because we are hard-wired to be socially connected.
“I want to succeed here. It’s nonsense the notion I don’t care. People have a perception that I don’t care and my response is what is that based on? How do you know? I would ask you to ask my family how life has been for me and for them. It has not been pleasant at all.
“When you are in private, you show real emotion with your family. My job is to act how I think I should act in the best way for the team and the club, and act with the integrity that is right for me. I never want to be anybody else. I don’t want to be fake. I will be me and I will do my best. If my best isn’t good enough okay I accept that.
“I spoke with David Moyes about it; there’s a point to it to be considered but I think you need to be very careful. The world is tough for everybody. We’re going through an energy crisis, a cost of living crisis, and people are striking every other week. Things are difficult so nobody wants to hear about the poor old Premier league manager.”
The 47-year-old, who is understood to be receiving full support from the necessary parties at Stamford Bridge, continued:
“Nevertheless, when you ask me questions: ‘Is it hard? Is it tough? Is it nice to hear?’, as much as I’ve had support, I’ve had some not particularly nice emails come through that want me to die, want my kids to die. Obviously, that’s not pleasant to receive.
“If you’re asked about it for four months, are under pressure for four months, and are under pressure because you guys need to sell stuff, what do you expect in the end? If we don’t get the results then obviously that’s what happens. That’s football. That’s how it is.
“The challenge for me is, ‘Ok, how do I conduct myself’? That’s what I always turn to. The higher you go, the more pressure you have on how you are as a person.”
Graham Potter revealed this afternoon he has received abusive emails wishing death on him and his children.
This is disgusting and unacceptable. Potter deserves credit for speaking about it – and how he is handling other offensive criticism. https://t.co/nqy9XeNvX2
— Adam Newson (@AdamNewson) February 24, 2023
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