Chelsea's current approach has been compared to the Manchester United of old as Graham Potter sees his side languishing in mid-table halfway through the season. 10 points off the top four and with just one win in eight league games, Chelsea have stuttered all the way through the season.
Despite over £250m being spent on them over the summer things have gotten worse with an injury crisis and unsettled transfers contributing to a poor overall atmosphere at the club. Such is the current situation Potter has 10 first team players out injured after losing Christian Pulisic and Raheem Sterling in the first 20 minutes against Manchester City.
Mason Mount also picked up a knock in training and missed the game, meanwhile summer signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was taken off after being substituted on, compounding the issues as teenager duo Omari Hutchinson and Lewis Hall came on.
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All-in-all things look muddled at Stamford Bridge and only time will heal. It has landed lots of pressure at Potter's door though as the manager's readiness for the role comes under question at the hardest possible time.
The 47-year-old should be given leeway in order to achieve success says former Liverpool player Stan Collymore. After the 1-0 defeat to Manchester City he tweeted: "Chelsea are United 3 yrs ago. Throw names at a board, scattergun recruitment (not GP [Graham Potter's] fault). If they're going to be a force with GP get a 22-24 yr old core, buy young/promise and let GP have time to develop them. Or go hire and fire again with more competitive clubs than ever."
Three years ago the Red Devils were moving between Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer after an unsuccessful period under Louis van Gaal in a bid to find a quick fix to post Sir Alex Ferguson issues. The comparison has its merits. Muddled and confusing decisions off the field can create trouble on it and that is how Chelsea have been run for too long.
It becomes pressing that when Erik ten Hag was given authority to stamp his name on the current squad, also signing a defensive midfielder for him, things have turned and Old Trafford is a tough place to visit once more. The immediate issue facing Potter is transitioning between an ageing group of senior players and a talented young underbelly.
A player that sums that up is Aubameyang, and Collymore thinks the ties need to be cut sooner rather than later. "As for Aubameyang, the punt at the time was worth it. Now? Get rid ASAP before he has any influence over the dressing room. Has no place at a GP Chelsea whatsoever. Pay him up if necessary.Will only go south fast now. Probably in a gold Lamborghini."
The 33-year-old was signed on deadline day over the summer in the hope of giving Thomas Tuchel the striker he needed to compete. Less than one week later and Tuchel had been sacked, throwing Aubameyang into uncertainty. He still has 18 months on his deal but looks far from at home in London once again and Potter hasn't managed to create the chances he needs to thrive.
How this is managed and how Potter chooses to move Chelsea forward may well rest on the approach taken with Aubameyang but the perfect blueprint is waiting with Man United's success visible via the table.
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