Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola could end up accumulating quite the cost if he was to invite every manager sacked by Chelsea out for dinner.
Back in January 2021, the Spaniard admitted he hoped to meet with Frank Lampard over dinner following the Blues legend's dismissal from his post in the Stamford Bridge hot seat. Prior to his public invitation, Guardiola made a comment that still rings true more than two years down the line in regard to the way managers are treated, particularly in west London.
"People talk about projects and ideas, but they don't exist - you have to win or you'll be sacked," the four-time Premier League winner said. "I respect the decision by Chelsea, but hopefully I can see Frank soon, take him to a restaurant to see him again when lockdown is over."
It is Guardiola's first remark that takes on new meaning in light of Graham Potter's sacking on Sunday evening. In fact, since those comments were uttered, Chelsea have hired Thomas Tuchel, sacked the German, replaced him with Potter and sacked him as well.
At least Tuchel had a Champions League to show for his efforts, Potter leaves Stamford Bridge with his tail tucked firmly between his legs having lasted just seven months at the helm, overseeing a miserable run of results.
Chelsea currently languish as low as 11th in the table, one point behind local rivals Fulham who sit a spot above.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Were Chelsea right to sack Potter? Comment below
There are a number of records and statistics that paint Potter's time at the Bridge in a negative light, but perhaps the most damning one is the Blues have a goal difference of minus one as things stand.
Alternatively, it could be that they have lost as many games as they have won (10 of each), but those in favour of both Potter's appointment and the idea of him staying in the hot seat will hark back to Guardiola's comments.
Many viewed Potter as a 'project manager' upon his appointment, the kind of boss that would need significant time to implement his ideas and get a tune out of the younger players in the squad.
It is for that reason his arrival in the first place raised so many eyebrows, given it was at odds with Chelsea's hire and fire culture, a similar approach to the one Guardiola alludes to.
On a wider scale, the sentiment raised by the City boss is one that applies to not only Potter but every manager in the division.
This Premier League season still has just under two months left worth of action to play but has already seen the most managers sacked in one campaign with 11 dismissed. Lampard was sacked from his post as Everton manager earlier this year.
Potter wasn't even the only boss to lose his job last weekend, with Brendan Rodgers also sacked by Leicester.
What should be a concern for Potter is the fact that jobs that allow the kind of time he requires are a rarity, he walked away from one in Brighton and just how soon he'll find another after his Chelsea nightmare remains to be seen.
