Graham Potter responds to Tuchel chants during Chelsea FA Cup defeat
Graham Potter has responded to Chelsea fans singing Thomas Tuchel’s name during their crushing FA Cup defeat to Manchester City.
Chelsea suffered a bruising 4-0 defeat at the Etihad as they were dumped out of the competition on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola’s team produced a rampant first-half display, scoring three goals without reply, including a spectacular free-kick from Riyad Mahrez.
Chelsea fans vented their frustration towards Mason Mount, who failed to influence the game as he was subjected to scrutiny on social media.
The club’s travelling support also sang the name of their previous manager, Tuchel, with some of their fanbase clearly thinking the German boss was unfairly dismissed.
A video of the Tuchel chants emerged online, with Potter understanding the fans’ frustration amid the club’s dismal run of results.
“We can’t do anything but do our jobs better and work harder,” he said during his post-match press conference.
“We understand the supporters’ frustration but our job is to do our job. There are always other opinions, criticism and negativity, but that’s part of the challenge.”
Potter added: “It’s always challenging in the Premier League and it’s always challenging here. I understand their frustration and I understand when you look at results and the team performance today that it is far away from Manchester City.
“That’s clear. We have to focus on the next day, the next match. We play on Thursday and it’s an important game for us.
“We need to stay together as group, support each other, and I’m sure we will get the support of the supporters when we see good performances and results.”
Chelsea are fighting on just one front for the remainder of the season as they look to secure a top four finish in the Premier League.
They remain in the Champions League following their EFL Cup and FA Cup eliminations.
The Blues meet Borussia Dortmund next month, with the ‘Big Ears’ trophy their only chance at silverware this season.
