Chelsea see Flick as 'potential replacement' for Potter

Stuart Telford

• 12 Feb 2023 10:05 GMT
• 3 min read

Graham Potter has had a difficult start as Chelsea head coach, and Hansi Flick has already been lined up as his replacement according to reports in Germany.

Potter replaced Thomas Tuchel in the Stamford Bridge hotseat in September, but has only managed nine wins from his 23 games so far, giving him the lowest win percentage of any Chelsea manager in 27 years.

That record comes despite the fact that American billionaire Todd Boehly has spent more than €600 million on players in the two transfer windows since he bought the club from Roman Abramovich last May.

READ: Sterling, Kante, Havertz - The incredible TEAM that will leave Chelsea in the summer

Boehly has publicly backed Potter, but that hasn't stopped him sounding out Germany manager Flick according to Sport Bild's Christian Falk.

"I heard that Hansi Flick is an idea as a potential replacement for Graham Potter," he wrote. "I know about the rumours that surfaced after he was spotted at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea’s clash with Fulham but he was actually there because of Kai Havertz.

'Chelsea knocking at Flick's door'

"Chelsea were knocking at Flick's door back when Marina Granovskaia held a role with the club. Hansi Flick also told me that there were concrete talks with Tottenham at this time but then he decided on taking up the position of [Germany head coach]

READ: Potter out? Flick sends Chelsea fans into meltdown after Fulham showing

"But now, not Todd Boehly himself, a middleman knocked on the door of Hansi Flick. I asked Flick about this and he said 'no comment'. It would be easier for him to say it wasn't true but he didn't, so you see there is something there but it's not an option for Hansi Flick because he wants to remain in charge of Germany for the Euros taking place on home soil in 2024."

Flick may want to stay in charge if his country until Euro 2024, but the suspicion remains that he missed the pace of club football.

Flick was only in charge of Bayern Munich for two seasons, but let them to an unprecedented international sextuple in 2020, which included triumphs in the Bundesliga, Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup.