MANCHESTER United legend Paul McGrath says Chelsea have made a mistake with Graham Potter – and should have gone for Mauricio Pochettino or Zinedine Zidane instead.
The Blues officially unveiled Potter as their new manager on a whopping five-year contract last week after paying Brighton £20m compensation.
Mauricio Pochettino missed out on the Chelsea job
Zinedine Zidane was also initially linked with the Blues after Thomas Tuchel was axed
Potter, 47, will earn just over £10m a year – far more than sacked predecessor Tuchel, who has revealed his devastation at being axed, from his £8m a year post.
Former Real Madrid manager Zidane, who led them to three Champions League crowns, and ex-Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain boss Pochettino were both linked to the job initially.
And McGrath, who played for both Manchester United and Aston Villa, says Poch “must be wondering what on earth is going on” after Potter beat him to the post.
The 62-year-old former Republic of Ireland star wrote in the Sunday World: “When you are Chelsea and you need a manager, it behoves a club that were European Champions last year and are World Club Champions to get nothing but the best.
“And right now ‘nothing but the best,’ in terms of available managers, meant either Zinedine Zidane or Mauricio Pochettino.
“Instead of going for either man who are free agents, Chelsea paid, it is believed, a total of £22 million to loosen Potter and his coaches from their Brighton contracts. It makes no sense to me.
“I know Zidane seems to want to wait for the French national team job after the World Cup finals, but Chelsea are not short of the money that would have turned his head. While Pochettino must be wondering what on earth is going on.”
He added: “Both Manchester United and Chelsea have now passed over a manager good enough to get Spurs to a Champions League final. That makes no sense to me either.”
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Despite Potter’s lack of experience at the top table of European football, the Blues view the Englishman as one of the hottest prospects in European coaching.
Potter has led Brighton to a flying start to the season with four wins from six games, including an opening day victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Since succeeding Chris Hughton at The Amex, the former defender has transformed the squad and style of play on the South Coast.
Graham Potter moved to Chelsea from Brighton last week
Paul McGrath believes that the Blues have missed a trick
