Sacking two managers mid-season and appointing new ones is a step that even Roman Abramovich never went to at Chelsea. He was trigger happy when it came to getting rid of coaches but it didn't escalate that far.
There were instances that looked close. Rafa Benitez as an interim went down badly with fans, even if he did ultimately deliver. Meanwhile, Guus Hiddink's second interim spell only raised the club to 10th place.
Graham Potter, sitting mid-table and out of both domestic cup competitions and on a run of form so bad it eclipses anything since 1995, is testing the water, it seems. He is being given a chance to reward the faith put into him but it isn't impressing the fans.
READ MORE: Todd Boehly has already made Graham Potter sacking decision at Chelsea in LA Dodgers blueprint
The Stamford Bridge faithful are used to seeing immediate results and improvements and never signed up to the reset under Potter. It's why the former Brighton man is the new favourite to lose his job in the league and also explains the list of possible replacements.
Outside of Thomas Tuchel and Zinedine Zidane are other coaches associated with short-term success. Jose Mourinho is there and perhaps a name that always felt likely to be stood on the sidelines at SW6 in blue one day, Diego Simeone. His love affair with Atletico Madrid appears to be coming to a conclusion.
His relationship in Spain has soured and there are now serious questions over where he will be at the end of the season. As a man capable of pragmatically getting the best of his players, fostering a brilliant atmosphere with fans and creating a great squad mentality, he was always a good fit the mid-2010s Chelsea.
The Blues tried to get him in but weren't successful. His appointment would need a lot to happen right now. Firstly he would need to leave Madrid before his contract ends in the summer, second is that Potter would need to be sacked, which doesn't look imminent regardless of what supporters clamour for.
Simeone would also represent a move away from the progressive football demanded by the new owners and strays from the youth development side, focusing more on the immediacy of the situation. That being said, he has been open about his future.
It was only last month that he spoke honestly in Madrid, saying: "My contract depends a lot on how we finish the season. Every season finale we get together to see how we continue. This year will not be the exception. It is more complex than what you suggest. You will find out when the season ends what will happen."
Meanwhile his sister Natalia Simeone - who is also his agent - limited the options to where he may manage in the future. Speaking in 2018 she said: “Diego said it too, sooner or later, he’ll end up at Inter [Milan]. I think it is only a matter of time. He loves the club, the atmosphere and living in Milan. Inter is a side he would really love to coach.”
There are more options that just San Siro though. “I should point out that he is also still very fond of Lazio, too. At the end of the day, passion always wins out," she added.
“Diego has been with Atletico for seven years. He is one of the best coaches in the world, but he remains when he knows there is still work to be done. I accompany him.”
Meanwhile, Simeone has previously praised Chelsea, not least in 2021 when his side were comprehensively beaten by the Blues in the Champions League last-16. "No, we are not looking for excuses,” he stated. “We were beaten by a better team.
"We tried to go and press them, but they were able to get out of it, and we could not keep up with them.”
Things have changed since then though, but Simeone still remains in the ring according to bookmakers.
READ NEXT:
Everything Thomas Tuchel said about Chelsea manager job as Graham Potter sack pressure mounts
Todd Boehly has already made Graham Potter sacking decision at Chelsea in LA Dodgers blueprint
Chelsea continue to make the same mistakes to leave Graham Potter fearing the sack
Ben Chilwell reveals what Chelsea dressing room is like amid Graham Potter sack questions
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge
