Guardiola calls for Potter to be given more time after Manchester City thrash Chelsea

By Sports Desk January 08, 2023

Pep Guardiola has called for Graham Potter to be given more time as Chelsea manager, after Manchester City handed his opposite number a heavy FA Cup defeat.

The Blues suffered a second loss in the space of four days against the Premier League champions, losing 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium.

Potter hit out at his critics earlier this month, stressing he needs time and patience from both fans and owner Todd Boehly in order to implement his vision.

Guardiola is in agreement, believing the circumstances he experienced in leading Barcelona to the treble in his first season in charge in 2008-09 to be unique.

"I would say to Todd Boehly, it was a pleasure to meet him, but give him time," he said. "I know results are important in big clubs but I would say give him time.

"I think the second half today is what he is and what he did in Brighton was outstanding. All the managers need time and he was right. We need time in the first season.

"I had results in Barcelona in the first season but we had Lionel Messi so one season was enough. But yes, everyone is an idiot [in football management].

"To play against Man City at the level we are at in the Carabao Cup or FA Cup is not easy. Not for Graham, Chelsea or any team."

A Riyad Mahrez double, alongside goals for Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden, helped ease City's passage into the fourth round, where Arsenal or Oxford United await.

Algeria international Mahrez in particular was in fine form, and was happy to let his World Cup-winning team-mate Alvarez take an earlier penalty before he converted his own spot-kick later.

"I was going to take the first one but Julian asked me, so I said of course he could take it," he told BBC Sport. "He’s a striker, when he scores it’s good for him. I wanted to take the second.

"Every season we try to be involved in every competition, we’re still in all of them. We have to keep going, we deserve it with the way we play."

Related items

  • Terzic 'proud but empty' after Dortmund's Champions League defeat Terzic 'proud but empty' after Dortmund's Champions League defeat

    Edin Terzic says he feels "proud but empty" following Borussia Dortmund's 2-0 Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid on Saturday.

    Dortmund were the better side in the first half, though lacked a clinical edge to punish a Madrid side struggling to create chances.

    Late goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior clinched a record-extending 15th European crown for Los Blancos, with Dortmund suffering Champions League heartbreak on Wembley turf for a second time.

    The Black and Yellow have now lost their last three major European finals, though Terzic was still able to reflect on the positives from the game despite the disappointing result.

    Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, he said: "After a Champions League final we've lost, I'm proud but also empty. It's difficult to think about the last 12 months and analyse that period. But I think we've had a season with a lot of ups and downs.

    "Today was a perfect example of what is possible with this team, what we can achieve and that's what's important from tomorrow onwards. We have to try to be more consistent.

    "It's difficult to find the words. Performance-wise, we played a great game, but we found out why they've become champions for the 15th time. They were so effective and that was something we missed.

    "We showed that we were here to win, not just play a game. We were close. Small things missing. But congratulations to them to keep this kind of hunger. You can see why they are champions.

    "This is a proud moment. We took 100,000 people from Dortmund to London, and everybody had the belief. It was a fantastic journey, but I'm also a bit empty inside as it was a great opportunity, but we didn't take it."

    On the opposite side, former Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham became the third-youngest player to start a Champions League final for Madrid at 20 years and 338 days, after Iker Casillas in 2000 and Raul in 1998.

    Terzic was full of praise for his former player and passed on his well wishes to the England international.

    "When he left us, I said the same thing I said to Erling Haaland - that I was proud to be their manager," he added.

    "It is his first Champions League win, and it is a proud moment for him.

    "I know what Mark, Denise and Jobe are doing to get this success in the family. Congratulations to Jude."

  • 'Legend' Kroos hailed by Valverde after triumphant Madrid send-off 'Legend' Kroos hailed by Valverde after triumphant Madrid send-off

    Toni Kroos was hailed as a "legend" by his fellow midfielder Federico Valverde after helping Real Madrid win their 15th European crown in the final game of his club career on Saturday.

    Kroos enjoyed a winning send-off in the Champions League final at Wembley Stadium, assisting Dani Carvajal's opener in a hard-fought 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund.

    The 34-year-old – who will hang up his boots after representing Germany at Euro 2024 – joined Luka Modric and Nacho in winning his sixth European crown, a feat only previously achieved by Paco Gento.

    Kroos led all 22 starters for touches (108), passes attempted (94), and passes completed (91), while only Ferland Mendy, with perfect distribution, bettered his passing accuracy (96.8 per cent). Dortmund's Julian Brandt matched his four chances created.

    Speaking to Movistar after the game, Kroos expressed relief that Madrid had survived a below-par first half, in which Dortmund missed several decent chances.

    "The decisive thing was that we didn't concede in the first half. The first half really wasn’t good from us," Kroos said.

    "Then we got into the game better and scored the goal. We were fully there and the better team. But it took a long time until we were the better team tonight."

    Valverde, meanwhile, was glowing in his praise for Kroos. 

    Asked how much he would miss his retiring midfield partner, the Uruguayan said: "A lot, like everyone else. 

    "He is a person who has left his legend here, his mark. We, as youngsters, try to learn as much from him as possible, like with Modric. 

    "Thank you for all that you have given and taught us on a day-to-day basis, for that competitiveness."

    Asked about Madrid's winning mentality, he added: "It comes from the greatest, those who give this value to this club: you always win. 

    "Tomorrow we'll go to celebrate, but they'll tell us to win it again next year!"

  • Bellingham: Champions League triumph 'the best night of my life' Bellingham: Champions League triumph 'the best night of my life'

    Jude Bellingham described becoming a Champions League winner as the best night of his life after helping Real Madrid down his former club Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium. 

    Madrid clinched a record-extending 15th European crown on Saturday, claiming a hard-fought 2-0 win over Dortmund, who spurned several clear opportunities in the first half.

    Dani Carvajal headed in Toni Kroos' corner for the 74th-minute breakthrough, before an Ian Maatsen error allowed Bellingham to slip in Vinicius Junior for a late second.

    At the age of 20 years and 338 days, Bellingham became the third-youngest player to start a Champions League final for Madrid, after Iker Casillas in 2000 (19 years, four days) and Raul in 1998 (20 years, 327 days). 

    He also became the third-youngest English player to do so with any team after Trent Alexander-Arnold in 2018 (19 years, 231 days) and Owen Hargreaves in 2001 (20 years, 123 days).

    Speaking to TNT Sports immediately after the full-time whistle, Bellingham was lost for words to describe the feeling of becoming a European champion.

    "I've always dreamed of playing in these games," he said. "You go through life and there are so many people saying you can't do things and days like today remind you why you do it.

    "When it gets hard at times you start to wonder if it's all worth it. Nights like tonight make it all worth it.

    "I was okay until I saw my Mum and Dad's faces. The nights they could have been home at seven o'clock but they were still out at eleven or twelve taking me to football. 

    "My little brother there who I am trying to be a role model for too... it's hard to put it into words. It's the best night of my life."

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.