The numbers behind Potter's disastrous Chelsea reign tell a grim story

Chelsea spent an outrageous sum of money under Potter and were rewarded with the worst performance in their recent history

Chelsea’s sacking of Graham Potter has come with little surprise after the manager failed to deliver results despite the incredible investment made by the club, both to bring him in and build a quality squad. 

How bad was Potter’s reign as Chelsea manager? The numbers tell a grim story that shows that the Blues made the right decision. 

How much did Chelsea spend to build Potter’s squad? 

Gaham Potter’s Chelsea reign started and ended in record-breaking fashion. It was revealed in Brighton’s financial report for 2022 that Chelsea had paid them a world record fee to secure the 47-year-old manager, buying out his contract for £21.5 million. 

In addition to his enormous buyout, Chelsea also set Potter up on a generous salary believed to be £10 million, making him the fourth best-paid manager in the Premier League at the time of his appointment, behind only juggernauts Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, and Antonio Conte at Tottenham.

Potter’s reported salary also saw him earn more than every manager currently atop the five biggest European leagues, including newly appointed Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel. 

Chelsea’s spending during Potter’s tenure also saw them splash out a British transfer record for midfielder Enzo Fernandez in a £107 million deal to sign him from Benfica. 

In total, Chelsea spent over £289.6 million in the one window that Potter oversaw as coach, which was more than any other club in the Premier League spent in the entire season. 

Chelsea’s performance under Potter was among the worst in the club’s history

Despite the outrageous financial layout, Potter’s Chelsea reign was plagued by poor results, as Chelsea saw arguably the worst period in its recent history, with the ex-Brighton manager leaving the club with a win percentage of only 39%, which is the lowest tally of any Chelsea permanent manager in the 21st century. 

Only interim manager Guus Hiddink, who managed 27 games, had a lower win percentage with 37% of games won. 

In the Premier League, Potter lost more games than he won with Chelsea, losing eight matches and winning only seven of his 22 games. 

Of the eight defeats in the league, four of them came at Stamford Bridge. In comparison, former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho lost one more match at the Blues’ stadium in 106 home games across five seasons and two tenures. 

Only four teams in the Premier League lost more games at home than Potter’s Chelsea during his reign, and three of those four are currently in the relegation places. 

With eight of Chelsea’s 10 losses in the league coming under Potter, the English manager cannot escape responsibility for the team’s current league position, as they would be ranked in the same position if the league started the day Potter was hired. 

Chelsea’s 21 goals in the Premier League during Potter’s 22 games in charge was also the 6th lowest in the league since September. 

The shocking poverty of Potter’s reign can also be seen in advanced metrics, as Chelsea’s expected points in the period he was in charge would have left them in 8th place in the league in the most optimistic circumstances. 

Related content