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Potter Chelsea GFXGetty/ GOAL
Krishan Davis

How Chelsea boss Graham Potter can avoid the sack: From starting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to unleashing Reece James

Chelsea
G. Potter
Originals
Premier League
Champions League
N. Kante
R. James
P. Aubameyang

The free-spending Blues are in rotten form and changes are essential if the under-fire manager is to hold onto this job...

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If certain reports are to be believed, Graham Potter's future as Chelsea manager hinges on the outcome of the club's next two games, at home to Leeds and Borussia Dortmund.

After the Blues suffered a rare London derby defeat to Tottenham on Sunday, it was claimed in certain sections of the media that Potter could be sacked if he fails to arrest his team's rotten run of form.

However, other outlets insisted that Potter retains the backing of the club's ownership.

Wherever the truth lies, the coach's situation is likely to deteriorate very quickly if Chelsea fail to take three points against old rivals Leeds and/or suffer a premature Champions League exit at the hands of Dortmund.

Potter clearly needs to make changes – and fast – if he is to save his skin...

  • Reece James Chelsea 2022-23Getty

    Tweak the formation & unleash James

    Since the World Cup break and Chelsea's subsequent January spending spree, Potter has moved away from playing three-at-the-back and predominantly deployed a 4-2-3-1.

    Though the formation accommodates more of the Blues' oversubscribed attacking ranks, it simply hasn't worked to date.

    Part of the problem is that flying wing-back Reece James – arguably the best player on the planet in his position – has been shackled in a deeper, more traditional right-back role.

    The England international has looked out of sorts since returning from a knee injury, rarely posing his usual potent threat from out wide.

    There is little doubt that his position is a contributing factor – a return to a back three with wing-backs could rejuvenate the team and also see James back at his devastating best.

    In terms of centre-backs to step in, Thiago Silva's untimely injury poses a problem, especially with Benoit Badiashile not in the Champions League squad.

    But Potter still has Wesley Fofana, Kalidou Koulibaly, Cesar Azpilicueta and Trevoh Chalobah at his disposal for Tuesday's crunch second leg with Dortmund at Stamford Bridge.

  • Aubameyang-Potter-Chelsea-2023Getty

    Give Aubameyang a go

    After a few weeks in exile, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was reintroduced to the fold on Sunday, coming off the bench against his old north London foes Spurs.

    Perhaps it's a sign that the Gabonese frontman, the only established Premier League goalscorer in the entire Chelsea squad, is edging back towards the forefront of his manager's thinking in his desperate search for goals.

    Although he was omitted from the Champions League squad and is, therefore, unavailable to face former club Dortmund, Saturday's home game against relegation-threatened Leeds presents a decent opportunity for Aubameyang to rediscover his touch.

    As long as Kai Havertz and David Fofana aren't producing the goods and Aubameyang has been as "professional" as Potter insists he has been, he deserves a chance.

  • 20230213_Potter(C)Getty images

    Or exile the unwanted!

    Alternatively, it could be time for Potter to show his ruthless side and cast aside those players he knows won't be at the club next season.

    It has been reported that the head coach feels his bloated squad post-January is negatively affecting training, as he struggles to find ways to involve every member of his 31-strong group.

    A simple, if cold-hearted, solution could be to root out and exclude the players who have no intention of being at the club beyond the summer anyway, and begin to build for 2023-24 with those who are, and will remain, fully committed to the cause.

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  • Enzo Fernandez Chelsea Dortmund Champions League 2022-23Getty

    Enzo needs support

    Enzo Fernandez's class has been clear for all to see since his huge-money January move from Benfica.

    However, what is evident is that he can't do it all on his own, and Potter needs to work out who is the ideal midfield partner for the Argentine from his raft of options.

    On recent evidence, Ruben Loftus-Cheek probably isn't up to the task, and Conor Gallagher's form has been patchy at best.

    Chelsea have been boosted by the return from injury of both Mateo Kovacic and Denis Zakaria in recent weeks, and although the midfield might have a defensive look to it, either of them could supplement Enzo nicely in the centre of the park and perhaps allow the World Cup winner to be more adventurous.

    Of course, there is another option too...

  • N'Golo Kante Chelsea 2022-23Getty Images

    Time for Kante?

    That's right: N'Golo Kante is finally back in group training and could provide Potter's squad with a significant shot in the arm for the run-in – if he can stay fit, that is.

    It's not as though Chelsea need any more new signings after their recent spree, but Kante will feel like another one having been sidelined since mid-August. He hasn't even played under Potter yet.

    Providing he can steer clear of any more fitness issues, the Frenchman could be truly transformative for Chelsea in the remaining three months of the season. Certainly, a Kante-Enzo partnership is a mouth-watering prospect.

    The Blues will hope to get some match action into the World Cup winner's legs across their upcoming games, and they'll hope his impact is instant.

  • 20230224 ChelseaGetty Images

    Do some team building!

    After no fewer than EIGHT new signings arrived in January, it was inevitable that the new-look squad would take a while to gel.

    However, be it because of poor form or the language barrier, a number of Chelsea players are still looking completely lost. Indeed, so many members of the squad still look like absolute strangers to one another.

    A good rapport off the pitch could help to improve the team's form on it, and Potter needs to be working on that synergy away from the training ground if he hasn't been already.

  • Graham Potter Chelsea 2022-23Getty

    Get fired up & reap the rewards

    With two home games that could define his tenure as Chelsea manager, Potter needs to draw from the energy of The Shed End and show his own edge to fire up the crowd.

    There have been isolated calls for the usually reserved coach to be more fiery on the touchline, and although it is against his nature, it may be time to give the Stamford Bridge faithful what they want.

    Historically, a hostile home atmosphere has propelled Chelsea over the line when their backs are against the wall, and that's exactly what they'll need in a scrap with relegation-threatened Leeds on Saturday, and to overturn a one-goal deficit against Dortmund next week.

    One way or another, Potter needs to prove that he really is the right man for the job...

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