All is not rosy for Graham Potter as the Chelsea manager prepares his players to face Tottenham in a hugely significant Premier League game this weekend.
Chelsea have won just two of their past 15 games in all competitions – an appalling record for any team, let alone one that has spent £600million in the past two transfer windows. Potter is coming under ever increasing pressure, with his side booed off following their 1-0 defeat at home to Southampton on Saturday. He retains the support of the Blues board for now but could really do with a result against Spurs on Sunday.
Now is an opportune time for former Chelsea players to speak up about their exits from the club – and we have heard from two of them recently. Here Mirror Football brings you their thoughts and Neymar’s stance on a future transfer.
Neymar not keen on Chelsea
Todd Boehly has been extremely busy in the past two transfer windows since his consortium bought Chelsea last May – and he is showing no signs of slowing down.
According to Le Parisien, Boehly flew to Paris last week to discuss Neymar's future with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi ahead of the French side's 1-0 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Neymar is under contract with PSG until 2027, but their ropey form – they had lost three games in succession before a last-gap 4-3 win over Lille on Sunday – means nothing is certain.
Nevertheless, it doesn’t look like Neymar will be pulling on a Chelsea shirt any time soon. L'Equipe reports that he wants to remain in the French capital for the foreseeable future.
Werner hits out at Tuchel
Timo Werner felt he had to force through a move back to RB Leipzig to rediscover the enjoyment of football after being “forgotten” by Thomas Tuchel.
The German striker arrived in London in the summer of 2020 following a lethal spell in the Bundesliga, but was sold back to Leipzig last summer after slipping down the pecking order under Tuchel.
“All this [good form] gets a little bit forgotten by the manager, it was not really fair. That was also a reason I had to move back to Leipzig, to get the enjoyment again,” he told The Sun.
“I didn’t feel that any more but you need it to be successful. In the end a manager likes some players more than others – it’s completely normal and you have to accept that. Maybe yes, in the end I just wanted out.”
Jorginho explains exit
Jorginho has opened up on how he came to join Arsenal on transfer deadline day last month.
The Italy international was a pivotal figure at Chelsea after four and a half years, but left in a sudden move for the Gunners after they failed to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton.
“I had spoken to Chelsea and I knew I was no longer part of their plans. I wanted to progress in my career and the Arsenal project suits me,” he told DAZN.
“It’s a young team that plays good football and fits my characteristics. I considered every scenario and made the decision. Sometimes you must accept when you are out of a project and that things come to an end.”
