Graham Potter's Chelsea mannerisms continue to divide opinions within the fanbase. The manager has once again been the centre of post-match discussion as his energy frustrates those looking for inspiration.
With some calling for his head still in spite of the senior perseverance at the club it has once more turned to his actions off the field rather than tactical shape or identity - they are subject to intense and rigorous inspection on a daily basis. After Thomas Soucek's late handball wasn't called up by VAR for a late Chelsea penalty many felt it was time for Potter to stand up and be loud.
After all, it was only six months ago that Thomas Tuchel was fined for his own verbal barrage on Anthony Taylor following his failure to spot Marc Cucurella's hair being pulled against Tottenham Hotspur. The German built up a relationship with the supporters that Potter can only dream of currently. He bought into the us against the world Chelsea that fans have been used to.
READ MORE: Chelsea and Arsenal sent 'overrated' Declan Rice transfer verdict amid British record price tag
Potter is so far not on the same spectrum and hasn't had the same impact, fostering a completely different approach. It is not just his methods being questioned but also his mentality, competence and qualification for the job that have come under scrutiny. The run of just two wins in 13 games - bettered by the now departed Nathan Jones at Southampton in the same timeframe - has meant unrest is still building and is in danger of boiling over.
It makes the Champions League last-16 tie against Borussia Dortmund even more important but also intriguing. Potter's European record at Stamford Bridge is excellent, helping to overturn a perilous one point from two games into safe passage to the knockout stages with a game to spare.
In his five matches in the Champions League Chelsea have won four and drawn one, conceding three and scoring 10. The baron league form outside of that has made positivity hard to come by ahead of the trip to Germany though. Fans have seen £550m worth of new signings under Todd Boehly and Potter is failing to get the best from them.
Even with the near-£300m spent in January, that is just extra ammunition to take aim at the former Brighton boss with. The scenario is one of utter contempt on the whole and if the Champions League can't overturn some of the feelings at SW6 then potential mutiny is on the cards.
The 47-year-old himself cannot catch a break. When the tide is against you, decisions like Soucek's handball feel even more egregious. Whilst the fans whistle, boo, shout and complain they want a manager to come out and get behind them. That isn't the way Potter does things. Rightly or wrongly it's also not going to change.
There is a sense of hypocrisy to the whole thing though. With European football on the immediate horizon, it only takes a cast to last season to see fan favourite Tuchel doing as much as accepting defeat. Ahead of the second leg against Real Madrid, with a 3-1 deficit, Tuchel labelled the challenge 'almost impossible.'
If the same were to happen on Wednesday night and Chelsea had to overturn a first-leg defeat, even with the advantage of playing at home last, it is hard to imagine Potter not being fed to the lions by supporters for such a statement. This all comes with the caveat that Tuchel had won the competition remarkably less than 12 months prior but his words nonetheless were damning. He had earnt the right to pretty much say as he wished. He was the Messiah, and the mess he fell into at the start of this season wasn't his to clear up.
Now Potter is at the helm though that seems to have changed in the eyes of many. Immediate results are staples at the club. Potter has anything but untouchable status. He has to earn that and no amount of factors going against him will even out the uphill battle.
If this is all about attitude, public persona and mentality - which it primarily isn't, if results were to turn then Potter's personality would be much less of an issue - then it is tough to see why Potter's own strong stance on Dortmund has been taken so differently to Tuchel.
Potter actually went with an extremely positive spin on the upcoming game. "We have the capability to beat Dortmund," he said. "But they are also a strong side with the capability to get a result as well. We have to understand that and go to Dortmund with humility, with respect, and try to get the result."
No matter how bullish or strong he is to be or to become it is still the results that will do the main bulk of the talking. Winning at Dortmund, or taking a two-leg victory at least, won't make up or change the attitudes in a flash but it might go some way to quietening the vocal doubters. Or perhaps more likely it won't and they will be waiting for the next chance to jump on his back.
READ NEXT:
Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Chelsea teammates left 'shocked' after what happened vs West Ham United
Liverpool already know Mason Mount price tag as Chelsea bosses 'resigned' to contract decision
Joao Felix lifts lid on 'easy' Chelsea start after scoring first goal vs West Ham United
Every word Graham Potter said on VAR, Tomas Soucek, Chelsea adjustments, Reece James, Joao Felix
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge
