Chelsea boss Graham Potter reveals players had ‘worst pre-season ever’ in the summer | Football News

Graham Potter has revealed that Chelsea’s squad have been told they had their “worst pre-season” of the summer as the inactive manager defended their poor results.

Former Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel is in charge of Chelsea’s tour of the US, which was planned by the previous regime before the £4.25bn sale to a consortium led by Todd Boehly in May.

Chelsea have won just one of their last 10 games in all competitions and Potter puts some of their players down to a “suboptimal” pre-season.

“It’s really difficult [to integrate new players and get results]”said Potter ahead of Sunday’s trip to Tottenham in the Premier League, live Sky Sports.

“My quote a few weeks ago was that this is the most difficult job in football, and there are many factors involved.

“Talking to some experienced people, they think it’s the worst pre-season for different reasons.

Asked why, he replied: “The organization, the tour didn’t work out the way we wanted. I wasn’t there, so I can’t say.”

‘I spoke to the owner – support is still there’

Potter was late to his press conference on Friday as he joked that he was coming from a crisis meeting with the owners after reports that there had been talks about the club’s struggles this week.

The 47-year-old said he had spoken to the owners and they continued to support him, as he took a dig at the media.

“I’ve spoken to them and they’ve always been very supportive,” Potter said.

“I’ve been pushing you here for four months, don’t forget.

“[Their support] along. He has been good and very good. I think they also see where we are and at the same time they are frustrated because of how the results are and we have to do better.

‘Transfer spending increases pressure’

In the short time Potter has been in charge since replacing Tuchel in September, it is the biggest change in the club’s history.

Chelsea have spent more than £600m in the transfer market over the last two windows, but injuries and adaptation time have prevented the Blues from turning their fortunes around, according to Potter.

“There is a change of manager in the middle of the Champions League Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday. We have an injury situation that has not happened at that time in the Premier League,” he said.

“Then the World Cup. The club invests a lot of money in the squad that does (drive up) for pressure, expectations and distractions.

“But the players we have are not 28-year-old, 400-game Premier League players. These are young players that you need time to adapt to. At the same time, the injury situation we have. [means] you have to work hard to play in the Premier League.

“We thought we were progressing and then we had the first half against Southampton – our third game in a week back from the Champions League game – which was below par. The sky can then fall. These are some of the facts. It’s not fun. the fact that you say he’s useless, but that’s the way it is.”

Watch Tottenham vs Chelsea on Super Sunday from 12.30pm, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 1.30pm.