Pep Guardiola Asks Chelsea to Give Graham Potter Time, Uses Messi Example

• Pep Guardiola says managers need time to succeed at clubs - unless they have Lionel Messi
• Guardiola and Messi shared a wonderful and highly successful time together at Barcelona
• The Manchester City boss asked Chelsea's owners to back under-fire coach Graham Potter

Manchester City Head Coach, Pep Guardiola has asked the owners of Chelsea to give embattled boss Graham Potter time to implement his policies at the club.

Potter is facing arguably the toughest time of his managerial career, as the English side continues to post unsatisfactory results. The Blues' season hit a new low, as Guardiola's side picked them apart on January 8 to knock them out of the FA Cup.

It was the third time that the Spaniard got the better of the Englishman this season, with Man City ahead by three goals at half-time.

A much-changed Chelsea side, hit by many injuries, failed to mount any challenge at the Etihad Stadium and the travelling crowd expressed their disappointment.

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Guardiola backs Potter

Calls will start to mount for the former Brighton boss to be shown the door, but Guardiola has called for calm in the Chelsea camp. The much-accomplished manager reiterated that everything takes time and he believes Potter will shine for the Blues in due time.

"I would say to Todd Boehly that it was a pleasure to meet him, so give him time. I know in the big clubs, results are important, but I would say give him time," he said as quoted by Football London.

The Lionel Messi factor

Guardiola then went on to explain why he didn't need said time during his period at Barcelona.

The Spanish manager made his name in Catalunya, when he led La Blaugrana to an unprecedented sextuple in 2009.

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"In Barcelona, there was a reason. Because I had Messi there, I didn't need two seasons; one was enough."

Chelsea face back-to-back London derbies against Fulham and Crystal Palace, with the side currently in 10th place and 10 points away from the Champions League spots.

Chelsea boss sends defiant message

At the same time, Sports Brief reported that Chelsea boss Potter sent a defiant message to Blues fans who want him sacked.

He has been at the helm of affairs at Stamford Bridge since September 2022, succeeding Thomas Tuchel after the German was fired.

However, the former Brighton manager has endured a tumultuous start to life with the west Londoners, with the side currently placed 10th in the Premier League standings.