National Coach Blasts Graham Potter Over Treatment Of Chelsea Star

Chelsea boss Graham Potter has been slammed by Albania coach Edy Reja over Armando Broja’s lack of playing time.

Broja impressed last season on loan at Southampton in the Premier League, scoring six goals across 32 games, but has found his opportunities limited this term, with Reja revealing the player could have left to join Italian club, Napoli.

Broja had also been linked with several Premier League clubs in the summer but opted to stay at Stamford Bridge and ended up signing a new six-year deal to fight for his place in west London.

The 21-year-old Albania international progressed through the Blues’ academy and describes Chelsea as his ‘boyhood club’.

The Slough-born forward registered his first Chelsea goal in the 3-0 victory over Wolves last month.

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That has been Broja’s only goal from 18 appearances this season, although he has only made three starts and has been limited to 465 minutes of action.

Graham Potter described Broja’s first start for Chelsea this season as ‘okay’ following the Blues’ disappointing 0-0 draw with Brentford in October.

Broja has scored four goals across 16 caps for Albania and his international boss Reja is unhappy with Potter over his lack of game time.

‘He has great potential,’ Reja told TMW. ‘He is a strong player, tall, he has technique and great speed, when he starts running you don’t catch him.

‘He must improve at second balls because when the action is over, he doesn’t help much. From this point of view, this year he is doing a little better.

‘But certainly the fact he plays 20 or at most 30 minutes does not help him.

‘Especially Napoli wanted him. [Sporting director Cristiano] Giuntoli was interested, he also spoke to me… But he wanted to stay at Chelsea, who then also renewed his contract.’

Speaking about his own lack of minutes earlier this month, Broja said: ‘I’ll try and perform as much as possible on the pitch and in training to get chances.

‘The competitiveness is very big and I know it’s not going to be easy but it’s something I look forward to.’