Graham Potter sacking is 'sad day' for Chelsea

Chelsea interim manager Bruno Saltor has described Graham Potter's exit is a “sad day” for the club.

Potter was sacked on Sunday night after the Blues dropped into the bottom half of the table following their 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge 24 hours earlier.

The former Brighton manager only took over at the London club in September and was in charge for 31 games that included home and away Champions League group-stage wins over AC Milan, and then knocking Borussia Dortmund out in the last 16.

But despite securing a European Cup quarter-final clash with holders Real Madrid, it was Chelsea's woeful domestic form that saw him lose his job.

Reports suggest that the decision to remove Potter was taken by Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart with the unanimous backing of Todd Boehly and co-owner Behdad Eghbali.

Assistant coach Billy Reid has joined Potter in heading through the exit, but ex-Brighton full-back Bruno has remained in post alongside Bjorn Hamberg, goalkeeper coach Ben Roberts and recruitment specialist Kyle Macaulay.

Graham Potter alongside Bruno Saltor during a Chelsea training session at Cobham. Getty

“I just spoke to Graham five minutes ago,” Bruno revealed at the start of his press conference ahead of Chelsea's Premier League game at home to Liverpool on Tuesday.

“Obviously it's been a difficult 24 hours for all of us, for the staff, for the families and now we just have to deal with the situation.

“It is a sad day. A sad day for staff because of Graham and Billy leaving, two top coaches, top people, top human beings.

“How I see it is I have to be the most professional I can, try to help the players, guide the players to prepare for the game the best we can.

“If I am here right now it's