Mikel Arteta has told Graham Potter the key to not being sacked. The Chelsea manager, who likened his current situation to Arteta’s early days in charge of Arsenal last week, has been told the only way of keeping his job is to start winning.
While Todd Boehly has so far remained patient in the man he appointed back in September, a dismal run of form, which has seen 10 losses in the club’s last 17 matches, has led to growing discontent among the fanbase. Pressure further mounted on the Blues head coach following last Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
After that loss, Potter referenced Arteta’s early days at Arsenal, along with the current situation facing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, as cause for optimism over a potentially brighter long-term future, as the Spaniard suffered a similar run during the 2020/21 campaign. A spell of seven defeats in 10 league matches, followed by the Gunners losing their opening three games of the following season, was met with loud calls for the manager to be dismissed.
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Arteta has now revealed how he seeked the club’s owners’ support during this difficult time. Despite all the reassurances he may have been given, the 40-year-old knew that only results would be sufficient in turning the tide.
“With me [the board] were really supportive, but at the end you have to win football matches because you know that if the run continues that it is unsustainable,” he said. “I knew I had to win against Norwich and win against Burnley, and then everything helps and the environment starts to get better, everybody is more confident and you can keep going.
“We depend on results, unfortunately. I always just focused on how to turn things around, how to make the team play better, to be more efficient, get players back because we had 11 players out of the squad in that period so we needed players back as quick as possible as well.
“When you have a close relationship with managers which I had - in Spain, some in Italy, some here – of course you get in touch, sometimes they give you support like we all do when someone is going through a difficult [period]. Maybe not on the phone, but just at least a nice text of support.”
Chelsea currently find themselves in 10th place in the Premier League, after enduring one of their worst campaigns in the club’s history. Boehly has entrusted Potter with delivering his long-term vision, accelerated by £600 million worth of talent invested into the playing staff over the course of this season.
Potter cited Arteta and Klopp as examples as to why managers should be given more time, even if results are not going their way. He said: “There is always that question, absolutely, and you can’t stop the questions.
"While results are what they are, I accept it, it’s part of the job. We were talking before the game about watching the Arsenal All or Nothing and two years into Mikel [Arteta's] reign he is close to getting the sack and people want him out.
"It was seen as a disaster - but things have now changed a bit. If you look at Jurgen [Klopp’s] situation, they haven’t got the results and all of a sudden people want him out.
"That is the nature of football. I haven’t done enough at this club to have too much good faith; I also accept that."
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