Graham Potter has received death threats aimed towards his children following a poor run of form at Chelsea.
The Blues have won just two of their past 15 games in all competitions. They sit 10th in the Premier League table, 11 points adrift of the top four, ahead of their crucial clash with Tottenham on Sunday afternoon.
Potter has been under mounting pressure, with his side booed off the pitch by their own fans following a dire 1-0 defeat by bottom side Southampton last weekend. The former Brighton boss retains the support of the Chelsea hierarchy, but he says the past few weeks have been particularly tough.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, Potter revealed the shocking extent of the abuse he has received. “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,” he said.
"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."
Potter has been under pressure almost ever since he took over from Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea in early September. He has won just nine of his 25 matches in charge of the Blues, who have been bolstered by the spending of £600million in the past two transfer windows.
Sunday’s trip to north London to play Tottenham could be a crucial one for Potter, who also has the second leg of Chelsea’s Champions League last-16 tie against Borussia Dortmund on the horizon on March 7.
Potter remains convinced of his own ability – but the constant external noise has become wearing. "It's a challenge," he said. "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."
FREE £2 shop bet in WIlliam Hill shops with Saturday's Daily Mirror , valid on the Manchester United v Newcastle game. Don't miss your chance for a free flutter on the game everyone's talking about with your paper.
