sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Chelsea's squad was too big for Graham Potter leading to chaos in the dressing room and team meetings
Home>Football
Published 12:54 4 Apr 2023 GMT+1

Chelsea's squad was too big for Graham Potter leading to chaos in the dressing room and team meetings

Potter had a huge squad after the January transfer window, leading to players getting changed in the corridors of Cobham.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Graham Potter's first team at Chelsea was so big, following the ridiculous amount of January transfers, that they couldn't all fit in the dressing room.

The end of Potter's time at Stamford Bridge came on Sunday, after just seven months and 31 games at the helm of the team who'd reached two finals last season.

The final straw had come the previous day, when the Blues had been beaten 2-0 by Aston Villa, with fans once again slamming Mykhailo Mudryk.

His signing was one of many at the club back in the January transfer window, one of many transfers that really hasn't worked this season.

Advert

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been another of those incomings from last summer that hasn't worked out, with the striker joining under Thomas Tuchel, only to see the German leave weeks later.

The striker is clearly desperate for a return to Barcelona, something the club have blocked so far, and was happy to see Potter leave, based on his social media activity.

And it seems the huge number of signings not gelling wasn't the only issue with signing 16 players in a season, and it also the space at the club.

According to the Athletic, they ended with a squad of up to 40 players, depending on injuries, and it led to the dressing rooms not having enough room, and some having to get ready in the corridor at the Cobham training ground.

The media theatre inside the ground was also so packed for team meetings that some were left having to sit on the floor, whilst the manager spoke to them.

Aubameyang was one of many players rarely used. Image: Alamy
Aubameyang was one of many players rarely used. Image: Alamy

Every player in the squad believed they were good enough to be a member of the first team, making it difficult for Potter to drop any of them.

He didn't send anyone to train with the reserves, leading to him having a huge number of players to work with, whenever everyone was fit.

The former Brighton boss ended up having an 11vs11 game in training, whilst on the neighbouring pitch a 9vs9 game was also going on, in order to have everyone involved.

Much like the end of Ralf Rangnick's time at Manchester United last season, some of the players cruelly had nicknames for the manager.

The report claims that, behind his back, the 47-year-old was being referred to by some as 'Harry' or 'Hogwarts,' due to his surname.

With the situation the way it was, it's no wonder he struggled to get the results to keep him in the job, and that very few of the players have publicly wished him well since.

Featured Image Credit: Twitter/Alamy

Topics: Football, Premier League, Chelsea, Graham Potter

Ryan Sidle
Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a journalist for SPORTbible with over eight years of experience. Passionate about all sports, he mainly covers football and F1 - Daniel Ricciardo once spent an entire interview referring to him as 'Ryan Gosling,' still his proudest moment.

X

@Sidler28

Recommended reads

Luke Riley makes bold prediction ahead of blockbuster fight on Conor McGregor v Max Holloway cardGetty ImagesForget Conor McGregor - Lone'er Kavanagh is the UFC star you should be watching this weekendGetty ImagesF1 and F3 trainer reveals gruelling physical and mental work drivers must do for each race ahead of British GPGettyDavid Croft proposes new Olympic sport with drivers from 'around the world' ahead of British GPGetty

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
4 hours ago
5 hours ago
  • Getty Images
    an hour ago

    INEOS block Alex Scott and Carlos Baleba Man Utd deals with surprise Premier League star now a 'serious target'

    Michael Carrick may be set to welcome a shock Premier League midfielder to Old Trafford.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    an hour ago

    John Stones wanted by second Premier League club as Arsenal face transfer competition

    The England defender is currently without a club after seeing his Manchester City contract expire at the end of June.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    4 hours ago

    Gianni Infantino urged to resign as FIFA president after 'destroying football' at World Cup

    Infantino is under pressure after several questionable decisions related to the World Cup.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    5 hours ago

    Premier League referee announces shock retirement as statement released

    The 47-year-old refereed Spain's World Cup round of 16 victory over Belgium but will no longer officiate matches.

    Football
  • Graham Potter Confirms Interest in Surprise Job After West Ham Sacking
  • West Ham Prepared To Make Unprecedented Graham Potter Decision
  • West Ham Sack Graham Potter as Odds Slashed on Big Name Favourite to Replace Him
  • Ex-Liverpool Star Rejected Chelsea Transfer Due to Dressing Room Initiation