Despite Chelsea’s nine-point gap to fourth-place Manchester United, head coach Graham Potter has retained his “belief” in his team’s potential to contend for Champions League status next season.
Chelsea boosted their transfer spending under owner Todd Boehly to more than £500 million when they purchased midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Benfica on the last day of the transfer window. Fernandez made his Stamford Bridge debut on Friday as Chelsea and Fulham drew 0-0. They had produced a third similar result in their previous six Premier League contests.
Potter’s club, which has 30 points after 21 games and is ninth in the Premier League, may drop into the bottom half of the rankings this weekend with only one win in their last seven games.
Potter said when asked whether the team still had a chance to qualify for the Champions League the next year, “I’m sure with the potential we have.” I have confidence in the group’s combined ability.
Fernandez was the sixth player to join Chelsea in January, a period in which the club spent more than £300 million. Among the other names signed were Benoit Badiashile, David Datro Fofana, Andrey Santos, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, and Malo Gusto.
Potter insisted that the team needed to be together. “That is what we must do since that is the challenge. I don’t want to start thinking about what will happen in four or five months, even if there is still football to be played. I have to focus on the game, practise, and the next day.
Given how recently he has visited the country, Potter told Sky Sports that he is doing really well. Although neither he nor we are acquainted, I think you can see a few facets of his personality. He’ll keep getting better.
Earlier on Friday, managers Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola acknowledged their perplexity at Chelsea’s capacity to keep spending so much money. Potter emphasised that we shouldn’t focus just on transfer costs while making decisions.
“I think you have to think about it all in terms of pay and transfer fees,” Potter added. It truly depends on how you set up the agreement and the contract. “You could sign someone at a lower transfer price, but their salary would be enormous.” However, we have faith in our skills, and I think we did a good job. My present assignment is to make the squad stronger.
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