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Chelsea’s Interim Coach Bruno Saltor Laments Potter’s Sack Ahead Of Liverpool Clash

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Chelsea’s Interim Coach Bruno Saltor has described the dismissal of Graham Potter as the most difficult 24 hours at the club.

Naija News has reported that Chelsea sacked Potter and his assistant coach Billy Reid on Sunday, about a day after struggling Aston Villa defeated the club 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. Bruno Saltor was immediately named as the club’s interim manager.

This means that Saltor who has been a member of Potter’s backroom staff since his days at Brighton will be in charge of the game against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

Ahead of the Premier League game which will kick off at 20:00 on Tuesday, April 4, the former Valencia and Brighton defender said the departure of Potter and his assistant affected everyone at the 11th-placed club.

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Bruno said, “It’s been really difficult, at every single level, especially emotionally.

“You have to do the press conference, you have to deal with the players – it’s hard.

“My relationship with Graham and Billy, and how it affects families – it’s difficult to deal with that.

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“It’s a sad day for the staff because Graham and Billy are two top coaches and top human beings.

“I have to be as professional as I can and try to help and guide the players. I’m just focusing on what I can control and going day by day.”

Graham Potter left Chelsea 12 points away from 4th placed Manchester United with just 10 games left to play before the end of the season.

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Hence, Bruno Saltor’s responsibility is to ensure the team doesn’t go below the eighth spot and probably push the club up the Premier League table.

“The responsibility is all of ours,” Bruno said. “We have to keep it positive and focus on tomorrow’s game. That’s the energy we’re working with.

“I see it as an opportunity for the players. We’re representing Chelsea, a club with an amazing history, and it’s about winning, about dominating.

“It’s a massive challenge. I’ve had just four years of coaching but have been involved in football for 24 years. I’ve got a lot of experience in changing rooms, and what I’ll try to do is help and guide the players because I’ve been in those situations before.”

If Chelsea fail to appoint a permanent coach before the end of this season, Bruno Saltor would not only have the responsibility of qualifying Chelsea for next season’s European football, he would be saddled with the responsibility of taking Chelsea beyond the quarter-final stage of this season’s UEFA Champions League.

Chelsea’s next game in the competition is against reigning champions Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu on April 12, 2024.