The script was too hard to be ignored. It had already been written as Graham Potter travelled back to the Amex Community Stadium. His 'welcome' was anything but, Seagulls fans seemingly don't care for his work at the club.
That made the 4-1 hammering even worse. Chelsea started like they weren't expecting a barrage of energy from Roberto De Zerbi's fired-up side and it left Potter embarrassed on the touchline. Chelsea's actual plan for the wingbacks was shown in the second half as Christian Pulisic and Raheem Sterling were allowed to venture forward, but the failure to get a foothold in the first meant it was all too late by then.
Whether this crushing blow will make the 47-year-old rethink his tactics moving forward or not is another question, but for now the Blues must be prepared as Arsenal come next in the Premier League, at least the Blues should be well-rested with a dead-rubber Champions League match on Wednesday.
READ MORE: Four things learned as Graham Potter falls to first Chelsea defeat versus Brighton
Defeat to Brighton doesn't undo the good work that went into being nine matches unbeaten just like those opening games didn't transform Chelsea into unlikely title contenders, the truth is somewhere in the middle. The defeat on the south coast will mare that feeling for a while though.
Here's how the national media reacted to the drubbing:
The Express
Andrew McLean writes: " Chelsea manager Graham Potter did not enjoy his return to Brighton as the Blues fell to a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of his former players. The loss exposed four major problems within his current side which the 47-year-old will need to correct if he wants to compete for the Champions League places come the end of the season.
Striker
"Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has shown his quality since arriving from Barcelona, scoring three goals in ten games. However, at 33 years old he is unable to play every match given the Blues' busy schedule and they are a worse team in his absence.
"Kai Havertz led the line against Brighton and frequently struggled despite scoring the equalising goal, while Armando Broja appears to be unfavoured by Potter. The Englishman must find a way to play without the Gabon captain if he wants to keep his side competitive on all fronts."
The Guardian
Jacob Steinberg writes: "Brighton were rampant, merciless and utterly brilliant. They exhibited many of the better traits of their former manager, playing with style, intelligence and tactical flexibility, but this was no tribute act. It was Potterball with a De Zerbian flourish and, as Chelsea left the pitch to the sound of mockery ringing in their ears at full-time, nobody inside the Amex Stadium could have made the mistake of thinking that Brighton were pining for the past.
"There was no room for any sentiment. Watching from an unfamiliar spot in the away dugout, Graham Potter found himself powerless to silence the jeers. Nothing was going to deny Roberto De Zerbi his first win as Brighton’s manager and, once the dust had settled, it was left to Potter to question his tactics, wonder why control had eluded Chelsea and even suggest that his use of Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic as wing-backs had left him looking “a bit of a fool”."
The Telegraph
Sam Wallace writes: "Graham Potter reminded Brighton fans that he transformed their club’s fortunes over three seasons after the new Chelsea manager was subject to their taunts during a 4-1 defeat – his first in the job since leaving last month.
"The hostility towards Potter increased as his team struggled in a first half in which they conceded three – two of them own goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Trevoh Chalobah. Later, Potter said that he had no regrets at taking the Chelsea job in September, having taken Brighton to a club record-high ninth-place finish the previous season.
" “I didn’t have any expectations [about the Brighton fans’ attitude towards him]” Potter said. “I have nothing to say sorry for or apologise for. I did a good job. You can see the team is a good team. I took over when they were fourth from bottom in the Premier League and were probably the third-worst team. There is a lot of money been raised in terms of player sales and a lot of good players on the pitch. I hope for their sake, the next managers do as good a job and that’s brilliant for them.”
"For the second Saturday in a row, Potter’s tactical approach did not have the desired effect for Chelsea with his three-man defence overwhelmed in the wide areas by Brighton in the first half. This was the first win in six for his successor Roberto De Zerbi."
READ NEXT :
Kevin De Bruyne warning impacts Chelsea as Graham Potter truth becomes clear against Brighton
Chelsea player ratings as Kai Havertz nets and Sterling struggles and Blues hammered by Brighton
Thomas Tuchel breaks silence on abrupt Chelsea exit as Todd Boehly given brutally honest verdict
What Brighton fans said to Graham Potter at the Amex Stadium as Chelsea boss 'welcomed' back
Graham Potter outlines Chelsea January transfer window expectations following Blues appointments
