Micah Richards has claimed that Graham Potter is actually a top football manager, who was just unlucky to take the job at Chelsea when he did.
Potter was hired at Chelsea two years ago— right after the Todd Boehly-led Chelsea ownership decided to part ways with Thomas Tuchel.
The Englishman had done so well with Brighton, and many expected him to replicate the success he achieved with the Seagulls at Stamford Bridge, but he couldn’t even last an entire season before he was sent packing.
Potter has struggled to get a new management job since leaving Chelsea, even though Manchester United are rumoured to be eyeing the ex-Brighton boss for the top job at Old Trafford, should they decide to sack Erik ten Hag.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s fortunes have not changed at all, despite the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as permanent manager of the club last summer, with the Argentine’s future at the West London club now said to be under major threat after his side’s 4-2 defeat against Wolves on Sunday afternoon.
Ex-Manchester City defender, Richards has now made a case for Potter, whom he believes was unfortunate to have gone to Chelsea when he did.
Richards told the Rest Is Football podcast: “Potter, he was doing an outstanding job at Brighton wasn’t he? He gets the Chelsea job, it was probably too big of a time for him at that time, but he’s not going to say no to it.
“Now, people don’t think he’s good enough to manage a top club. He is! He just went to a club at the wrong time.
“I just think it’s all about timing and the media – we put them on a pedestal.”