Craig Burley says Chelsea manager Graham Potter would have been a ‘better fit’ for Tottenham Hotspur amid his current struggles at Stamford Bridge.
Tottenham have former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte running their ship and one thing that gets aimed at him is the so-called defensive style of play in north London, with Burley thinking Potter would play ‘better football’, as he told ESPN.
The 47-year-old was handed the keys to the Chelsea job back in September when new owner, Todd Boehly, decided to boot out Thomas Tuchel.
It was a surprise that Tuchel was handed his P45 given that it wasn’t so long ago they won the European Cup in Chelsea colours, but that’s the ruthless nature of the business.
But rather than give the job to a ready-made manager, Boehly decided that he wanted to give Potter the chance after the 47-year-old’s success at Brighton.
Since the turn of the century, no-one has been more cut-throat with their managers than Chelsea, with one of their former players stating that a manager of Potter’s ilk and style would have been better off at Hotspur Way.
“I think when it all shakes out, maybe Chelsea weren’t right for him with his approach and recruitment at Brighton and the way he changed the way they played,” said Burley.
“Right place and the wrong time, for him – I always felt that Tottenham was a better fit for him. There are budget restrictions at Tottenham akin to Brighton, they have more money. But there are still restrictions.
“I would imagine they have a longer-term plan and he’s not going to whine at every press conference about recruitment and his playing staff. They are going to get on with it and play better football than they are, at the moment. I always felt that fit was better for both the club and the manager.”
POTTER’S STYLE OF PLAY
The Englishman doesn’t have the CV of a Conte – yet – but, one thing is for sure, he does play better football.
Given that Spurs fans demand a more forward-thinking and easy-one-the-eye style in north London, then there is no doubt that Potter would have been a perfect fit for them, in that aspect.
But Tottenham are at a stage where they need trophies now, and in truth, Potter isn’t that ready-made manager for them.
Saying that, it will be interesting, if Conte does leave, whether or not someone like Mauricio Pochettino returns to the club given that he is still out of a job.
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