The 23-year-old Portugal forward has arrived at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea ten points adrift of the top four ahead of tonight’s visitors Fulham, with Potter under mounting pressure after a run of just one win from their last eight games.
Fans chanted the name of his predecessor Thomas Tuchel during Sunday’s 4-0 FA Cup thrashing at Manchester City but Potter insisted City’s Pep Guardiola, Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta and Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp had faced similar scrutiny in the past.
‘You have to understand that it’s part of the job,’ said the former Brighton boss. ‘You only have to look at some of my colleagues in similar positions.
‘Pep was quite heavily criticised in his first season. Arteta had to endure a period of criticism. Klopp in the first few years got some criticism. These guys are fantastic.
‘Football is emotional. Sometimes it’s hard to understand the “why”. It’s easier to blame somebody. You try to put it into perspective, try to remember you’re capable. Two months ago I was considered to be a top coach.’
The Blues are reportedly paying £9million to bring Felix to Stamford Bridge on a six-month deal.
‘He’s a quality player that gives everyone a lift,’ Potter said of an attacker Chelsea were still trying to register in time for tonight’s short trip to Craven Cottage. ‘His quality is in terms of playing as a second striker, playing between the lines, making things happen in the final third.’
Felix is Chelsea’s third January signing after £33m Monaco defender Benoit Badiashile and an £8m deal for the 20-year-old Molde striker David Datro Fofana.
On the prospect of further arrivals, Potter said: ‘There’s time. Whether we’ll find the right players or not is another thing. You have to look in this window to make the right decisions, but it’s complicated. We’re happy with what we’ve done so far.’
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is available for tonight’s game but N’Golo Kante and Reece James are not thought to be in contention to play despite returning to training.
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MORE : Danny Murphy claims ‘magical talent’ Joao Felix is better than three Chelsea stars and defends Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
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