Jody Morris rates Graham Potter’s start at Chelsea and names the player who continues to surprise him

Jody Morris spent 18 months as Chelsea’s assistant manager (Picture: Sky Sports)

Frank Lampard’s former Chelsea assistant manager Jody Morris has praised Graham Potter’s impact at Stamford Bridge and admits one player continues to surprise him.

Chelsea are unbeaten under Potter, winning four of their five games since the former Brighton boss replaced Thomas Tuchel in the dugout.

The Blues drew to Red Bull Salzburg in Potter’s first game in charge but have since beaten Crystal Palace, Wolves and AC Milan twice to climb up the Premier League table and put themselves in a strong position in the Champions League.

Asked if he has been impressed by the start Potter has made at Stamford Bridge, Morris said on Sky Sports: ‘Absolutely. First and foremost I was really pleased to see Chelsea appoint an English manager.

‘I think you can rule out his first game in charge because it was too soon. Since then, you can’t ask for more.

‘Clean sheets were hard to come by before Potter came in but they’re looking more solid now.

‘One of the positives is that they’ve played a lot of different players and still performed well. That bodes well for Chelsea’s games after the World Cup and the hectic schedule.’

Morris, who spent 18 months as Lampard’s assistant at Chelsea, also spoke glowingly of Blues defender Thiago Silva.

Silva signed a one-year deal at Stamford Bridge when he ended his long association with Paris Saint-Germain in 2020 but the Brazilian – now 38 – has been offered two contract extensions since then.

Asked if Silva is better than he realised before he arrived at Chelsea, Morris added: ‘Absolutely, and that’s taking nothing away from the respect and the admiration I had for him.

‘I always thought he was a top, top centre-half. But when you have a player in Italy and France you don’t really get to see them close-up and see them day in, day out.

Thiago Silva continues to impress at the age of 38 (Picture: Getty)

‘The fact that I had the opportunity to work with him, I could see the leader he is and to be performing at the levels he’s played at this season is outstanding.

‘He’s not only someone who produces top-quality performances himself, but he makes players around him better. He’s a leader and the calmness he brings to the team is outstanding.

‘Even when Chelsea were going through bad spells, he was still playing at a decent level.’

Potter’s Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League and travel to Villa Park on Sunday to face Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa.

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‘He’s been outstanding.’