Former Premier League stars, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Jamie Redknapp have disagreed over Chelsea co-owner, Todd Boehly sacking manager Graham Potter.
Potter, 47, has seen strong sack claims dissipate in the last few days after Chelsea picked up their third consecutive victory by beating Leicester City 3-1 in a Premier League tie over the weekend.
After just one win in 2023, Potter was at risk of losing his job at Chelsea heading into March/
However, victories against Leeds United, Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and Leicester have seen the pressure lessen significantly.
Chelsea’s clash against Leeds United was considered pivotal by many and when discussing Potter’s job security, Hasselbaink and Redknapp began a rather heated debate on the importance of the game against Javi Gracia’s side.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Redknapp said: “I would go as far to say I think if they had lost against Leeds, he [Potter] would have lost his job.
“I do. I think that was the case, but that just shows you how quickly things can change.”
Responding to Redknapp, Hasselbaink said: “I think the owners have a project and he [Potter] is a big part of that project.”
Redknapp then explained his reasoning behind his initial point: “I am not so sure. I am not saying they have not got a project, but I think you get to a point so far when the manager comes in, there is a certain amount of pressure, and I think if they had have lost that game [against Leeds United], that was it for him, the three games have been so important since.”
Hasselbaink then made a good point regarding the ownership change: “Maybe with the other owner [Roman Abramovich] it would have been months before, but I don’t think with these owners. They believe in Potter and they want this to go on for a long time.”