The Chelsea manager has received death threats

LONDON (AP) — Chelsea manager Graham Potter said he and his family have received death threats because of the team’s poor performance.

Potter said on Friday he had received several anonymous emails.

Potter, who said he thinks he has the toughest job in football, spoke about how it has affected him personally in recent months and dismissed accusations that his calm attitude in the face of adversity means that he doesn’t care about the team.

“People think I don’t care – what are they basing that on? How do you know?” he told a press conference before Chelsea face Tottenham on Sunday in the Premier League. “They can ask my family how life has been for me and for them. .”

“It was not pleasant at all. I understand that the fans go home and are upset that the team is not winning. But I assure you that my life for the last three or four months has been ordinary. I received not very nice emails, wanting me to die or my children to die. Obviously it is not pleasant to receive them. If they ask you for four months if you feel pressured because (the press) needs to sell, what are they waiting for at the end?

Chelsea have just two wins in their last 14 games despite splurging in the last two transfer windows. The team remains tenth in the Premier League.

Potter was hired in September to replace the sacked Thomas Tuchel.

Although Potter recognizes that only by winning will they change their minds, he will not give in to abuse.

“Life is difficult for a lot of people,” he said. “No one cares about Premier League coaches. Sometimes life isn’t fair. Not that I’m complaining. They ask me if it’s hard, I tell them it’s hard. You’re in pain. You get angry. When you are in private, you show your emotions with your family.

“It is useless, but the world is difficult. We are in the midst of an energy crisis, that of the cost of living. There are stoppages every two weeks, nobody wants to hear about a bad Premier League manager.”