Here is the problem with faith: once it disappears, generally speaking, it’s gone forever.
Occasionally there are exceptions, particularly in football when feelings fluctuate from week-to-week depending on results.
But in the moments when one’s faith is tested, those are the most telling. Chelsea‘s co-controlling owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital are approaching that juncture with Graham Potter.
Up until now the Americans’ commitment to their head coach – the first appointment of their reign – has been unwavering. Blow after blow after blow, yet the narrative that continues to emanate out of the Stamford Bridge boardroom is one of faith.
Faith in a manager whose team have lost three on the bounce. Faith in a manager whose team have won twice in 15 matches. Faith in a manager whose team have scored once in six games.
Chelsea’s faith in head coach Graham Potter (pictured) is starting to look blind, not sensible
The Blues lost 2-0 against rivals Tottenham on Sunday afternoon, their third defeat in a row
The result means the struggling west London side have won just twice in their last 15 matches
Is it blind faith? It’s becoming increasingly difficult to argue to the contrary.
On Sunday night, just hours after Chelsea’s latest setback – a 2-0 loss to Tottenham – the sense that Potter retained the backing of Boehly and Clearlake supremo Behdad Eghbali continued to reign.
Yet, suddenly there appears to be the first signs of apprehension about their continued support for Potter given the body of evidence to suggest that doing the opposite would be more sensical.
If doubts are surfacing, and Sportsmail are led to believe that they are, then it would only be natural. It would be more surprising if questions weren’t being asked.
More negativity in their next two fixtures – against Leeds and Borussia Dortmund – then the current unease will become palpable.
The loss of faith can be a painful experience: for those who once believed and those who are no longer believed in. It perhaps explains why Potter still finds himself as Chelsea manager.
But the next nine days, certainly if Chelsea extend their winless run to eight matches, will be indicative of quite how robustly that faith is felt.
The owners have spent £600million on new talent in two transfer windows, it’s entirely fair for them to feel they should be getting better value for money.
Co-owner Todd Boehly (left) began the match in fine spirits and posed with others at the…