Graham Potter has transformed Chelsea into Brighton, with statistics showing nearly identical records at Stamford Bridge and the Amex.

GRAHAM POTTER has transformed Chelsea into Brighton, with almost identical records.

In September, Potter took over at Stamford Bridge from Thomas Tuchel.

Graham Potter's tenure as Chelsea manager has been difficult.Credit: Alamy



However, the Blues manager, 47, is struggling to get a song out of his mega-money squad, which includes £600 million in new signings this season alone.

The stats now show that he is nearly replicating his campaign at Brighton from last season.

Chelsea is tenth in the Premier League after 23 games this season.

They have won eight, drawn seven and lost eight, scoring 23 and conceding 23.

With 15 games remaining, they have 31 points, four points and three places behind Brighton, who also have a game in hand.

In comparison, after 23 games in the 2021-22 season, Brighton had seven wins, 12 draws, and four defeats.

They had 25 goals but had also given up 23 goals, giving them 33 points and a ninth-place finish.

Tuchel oversaw Chelsea's first six games of the 2022-23 season, winning three, drawing one, and losing two, giving the Blues ten points and placing them sixth.

Ironically, that was three points behind Brighton, which Potter led to four wins, a draw, and a loss at the start of the season.

Chelsea fans will be unimpressed by the fact that Brighton finished last season in ninth place with 51 points, five points behind West Ham in the Europa Conference League spot.

However, supporters at the Amex will point to Potter's long-term progress and project.

The former Ostersund manager succeeded Chris Hughton in the summer of 2019, with the Seagulls avoiding relegation by only two points.

Potter guided Brighton to 15th (41 points), 16th (41 points), and ninth place in his three full seasons (51 points).

The Blues' ownership, led by Todd Boehly, is adamant about sticking with the man they hired to succeed Tuchel.

They recognize his need for time, as demonstrated with Brighton, and are willing to give it to him despite his record-breaking start to life in the dugout in West London, especially given the club's recent influx of new recruits.

Recent defeats to Southampton, Borussia Dortmund, and Fulham, on top of stalemates with the Cottagers and West Ham, have only exacerbated the mood among fans who are quickly losing patience.

Chelsea has a busy few weeks ahead, with big games against Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund, as well as games against struggling Leeds, Leicester, and Everton.

Potter had a lot of success with Brighton.Credit: PA