Pep Guardiola has urged Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly to back under-fire boss Graham Potter despite their 4-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.

Man City beat Potter’s troubled team for the second time in four days, making it impossible for the Blues to win a domestic cup this season.

City had already knocked Chelsea out of the League Cup in November, and the Premier League champions beat them 1-0 on Thursday. Guardiola’s team ran wild at the Etihad Stadium, making Chelsea’s already troubled season even worse.

Riyad Mahrez started the rout with a great free kick before halftime, Julian Alvarez’s penalty and Phil Foden’s goal made it 3-0.

After coming in second place in the FA Cup for the last three years, Chelsea lost in the third round for the first time since 1998 when Mahrez scored from the penalty spot.

With Chelsea in 10th place in the Premier League, 10 points behind the top four, Potter is already feeling the pressure just four months after taking over for the fired Thomas Tuchel.

The sound of Chelsea fans chanting Tuchel’s name and jokingly shouting “shoot” whenever they went on a rare attack during their latest humiliating loss probably didn’t help the former Brighton manager feel better.

Chelsea has only won three of its last 12 games in all competitions, but Guardiola defended Potter by telling the Blues’ leaders to give him time to make his methods work.

“I would say to Todd Boehly, give him time. I know in big clubs, results are important but I’d say give him time,” Guardiola said.

“What he’s done at Brighton is outstanding, but we need time in the first season. I had (Lionel) Messi in Barcelona my first season so I didn’t need two seasons because Messi was there.”

Photo by EPA/Adam Vaughan