Rodgers backs Potter for Chelsea success but warns of ´different pressure´

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has warned Graham Potter he can expect a “different pressure” at Chelsea but believes it is a “fantastic move”.

Potter has been named as Thomas Tuchel’s successor at Stamford Bridge, following the axing of the Champions League-winning boss on Wednesday.

New Blues owner Todd Boehly has been extremely active since taking over from Roman Abramovich, splashing vast amounts of money in the transfer market, and has now made his first managerial appointment.

Chelsea received permission from Brighton and Hove Albion to speak to Potter on Wednesday and confirmation of his appointment followed on Thursday.

Rodgers, who has experience in high-pressure clubs following his time with Liverpool, has told Potter he will encounter different challenges than his time at Brighton but feels it is the right move.

“It’s a different pressure,” Rodgers said in the press conference ahead of Saturday’s clash with Aston Villa.

“He’s done fantastic at Brighton, they’ve really developed. They’re strategically well run behind the scenes. 

“It’s that next step and it will be a fantastic move for him.”

Chelsea Football Club is delighted to welcome Graham Potter as our new Head Coach!

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 8, 2022

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl echoed Rodgers’ sentiment, backing Potter to succeed after impressing with Brighton.

“I must congratulate them for a very good choice. For me, [Potter] is the manager in the last two years with the biggest impact in a club with all the limits they had,” he said.

“With all the transfers they gave away to other clubs and they’re still competing at the highest level. It shows how good this group is.

“I was speaking with Pascal Gross who plays there and we were speaking very often about the development of the club. 

“I think [Potter] did a fantastic job with this group. He has all the experience I think to step into a bigger club and show there that he can perform at the highest level.

“It’s a clear signal that there are good English managers out there that can work at the highest level. He wasn’t always working in England either, he also went to foreign countries to get experience. 

“He was not too much full of ego and only staying here, he was looking for other options to learn and to develop his knowledge. This is a very good way of doing it and way of developing your knowledge in football.”