Graham Potter sacked by Chelsea, Brendan Rodgers axed by Leicester City in Premier League carnage

Graham Potter has been sacked as Chelsea manager after just seven months at the EPL giant, while Brendan Rodgers has also paid the price for a poor run at Leicester City.

Graham Potter has been sacked as manager of Chelsea. Picture: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Coach Graham Potter paid for Chelsea’s poor form as the Englishman was sacked on Sunday after just seven months in the job.

The Blues had slipped to 11th in the Premier League table after a 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday despite spending more than £500 million on new signings this season.

Former Brighton defender Bruno Saltor has been placed in interim charge. Chelsea have won just three games in their last 11 but have progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League where they face defending champions Real Madrid.

That tie may have been the decisive factor in the club’s new American owners pulling the trigger now, with the first leg in Madrid just 10 days away.

“We have the highest degree of respect for Graham as a coach and as a person. He has always conducted himself with professionalism and integrity and we are all disappointed in this outcome,” co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali said in a statement.

“We have 10 Premier League games remaining and a Champions League quarter-final ahead. We will put every effort and commitment into every one of those games so that we can end the season on a high.”

An unlikely run to the club’s third European Cup now appears Chelsea’s only route back into the Champions League next season as they sit 12 points adrift of the Premier League top four.

Potter becomes the second manager sacked by the consortium led by LA Dodgers co-owner Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital in their first season in charge.

Thomas Tuchel, who was appointed Bayern Munich boss last week, was dismissed in September, just over a year from leading Chelsea to Champions League glory.

Graham Potter was an expensive mistake for Chelsea. Picture: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Chelsea paid £21.5m in compensation to Brighton to appoint Potter. But that sum pales into comparison next to the fortunes the club have spent on players over the past 12 months with little return.

Argentine World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez was signed for a new English transfer record £106 million in January, while huge sums were also spent on Mykhailo Mudryk, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella and Raheem Sterling.

But Potter has struggled to strike upon a winning blend as he switched between formations and personnel without success.

The 47-year-old won just 12 of his 31 matches in charge and was widely booed by the Chelsea support after defeat to Villa at the weekend.

“I don’t like to blame anybody, I have to take responsibility,” said Potter after that match.

“We can feel the pain of the supporters... I understand when you lose at home, the emotion of the game is such that people are going to be disappointed and frustrated and angry.

“Where we are in the league table, no one’s happy with. Whatever criticism comes I have to accept.”

Saltor’s first match in charge will be on Tuesday when Liverpool visit Stamford Bridge.

Leicester sack Rodgers

Leicester parted company with manager Brendan Rodgers on Sunday as they look to maintain their Premier League status.

The Foxes dropped into the relegation zone after conceding late to lose 2-1 at Crystal Palace on Saturday, a damaging result which extended their winless run to seven games.

Former Liverpool boss Rodgers leaves by mutual consent after recently reaching four years in charge of Leicester.

He delivered two top-five finishes in the Premier League and the club’s first ever FA Cup win in 2021.

In a club statement, chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said: “Performances and results during the current season have been below our shared expectations.

“It had been our belief that continuity and stability would be key to correcting our course, particularly given our previous achievements under Brendan’s management.

“Regrettably, the desired improvement has not been forthcoming and, with 10 games of the season remaining, the board is compelled to take alternative action to protect our Premier League status.”

Leicester City has sacked Brendan Rodgers. Picture: Paul Harding/Getty Images

First team coaches Adam Sadler and Mike Stowell have been put in temporary charge ahead of a huge week for Leicester’s survival bid.

In-form Aston Villa visit the King Power on Tuesday before Saturday’s clash against fellow strugglers Bournemouth.

Rodgers made the move to Leicester from Celtic in February 2019 after winning seven trophies with the Glasgow giants.

His first two full seasons at the club were hugely successful, despite narrowly missing out on Champions League qualification on both occasions.

That disappointment was dampened in 2021 when Youri Tielemans’ blistering strike beat Chelsea 1-0 in the FA Cup final.

But the Foxes were unable to continue punching above their weight as many of their key players were picked off by richer Premier League clubs.

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire and Chelsea duo Ben Chilwell and Wesley Fofana were among those who left the club during Rodgers’ reign.

Despite selling that trio at a huge profit, Leicester continue to haemorrhage money due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, a rising wage bill and a new £100 million training facility.

That saw Rodgers handed a tight transfer budget this season and the impact has been felt on the pitch.

After losing six of their first seven games, four wins in five prior to the World Cup pulled them clear of the relegation battle.

But a run of just one point in their last six league games has finally cost Rodgers his job.

“The achievements of the team under Brendan’s management speak for themselves — we’ve experienced some of our finest footballing moments under his guidance and will always be grateful to him and his staff for the heights they helped us to reach on the pitch,” Srivaddhanaprabha added.

“His place in Leicester City history is assured.”

Originally published as Graham Potter sacked by Chelsea, Brendan Rodgers axed by Leicester City in Premier League carnage