‘If Chelsea accepts my humble advice,’ Pep Guardiola sends advice to Chelsea chiefs and fans about Blues boss Graham Potter
Pep Guardiola believes that Graham Potter is one of the best coaches in the Premier League, and that Chelsea will be rewarded for sticking with him.
Wednesday, Chelsea will face Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the third round of the EFL Cup, a task Potter is unlikely to relish in light of recent results.
Last month, after a nine-match unbeaten streak to begin his Stamford Bridge tenure, Potter suffered a 4-1 loss at former club Brighton and Hove Albion.
Sunday’s narrow loss to Premier League leaders Arsenal was the second consecutive domestic loss, and the coach is already under pressure.
However, Guardiola holds his opponent in high regard and stated prior to their match:
“I’m not the right person to say that because it’s not my business. But if Chelsea accepts my humble advice, with no intention, give him time and he will do well.”
The City boss added: “I have a lot of admiration for his work. What he did at Brighton is beyond exceptional, and I’m pretty sure with time he will do a good job.
“I don’t have any doubts about this. It’s the same with Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton.
“When they start losing games, it’s a question of time. If they are patient, he will have an impact in England and he will have it as Graham has done in this country.
“He’s one of the best managers, from my point of view, we have in this league.”
On Wednesday, Guardiola will face a second man under pressure when former City star Raheem Sterling returns to the Etihad Stadium for Chelsea.
Last week, Sterling scored in the Champions League against Dinamo Zagreb, but that was only his fifth goal for Chelsea. He scored 17 goals for City last year.
“No, no, I cannot judge,” Guardiola said. “In the case of Oleks [Zinchenko], Gabi [Jesus] and Raheem, I want the best.
“So, my gratitude to all of them, especially these guys, is immense, immense for what they have done for this club. Just hats off.
“Thank you so much, and I wish him all the best and, hopefully, he’s happy there.
“I definitely hope [Sterling gets a good reception]. I always like clubs when they welcome the guys who had been here many years and have been key figures and important roles in our team in all these years.
“Because maybe you forget what happened in the last month, but that is not a reality [of] what happened in a period of six, seven years he was here.
“He deserves it, of course. The same is going to happen with Gabi. When the game starts, of course, you want to beat them. But I think in England, people appreciate that.”
‘If Chelsea accepts my humble advice,’ Pep Guardiola sends advice to Chelsea chiefs and fans about Blues boss Graham Potter
