MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Pep Guardiola told Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly to continue to support Graham Potter after Manchester City thrashed the Blues 4-0 in the third round of the FA Cup early this morning.

Potter’s troubled side lost for the second time at the hands of City in four days as their hopes of a domestic cup win this season ended in disappointment.

Already eliminated in the League Cup by City last November and losing 1-0 at the hands of the English Premier League (EPL) champions last Thursday, Chelsea’s faltering season is approaching crisis after Guardiola’s squad terrorized the Etihad Stadium.

Chelsea have won just three of their 12 games but Guardiola reassured Potter when he urged the Blues’ top management to give the manager time to develop his approach.

“I want to say to Todd Boehly, give him time. I know in a big club, results are important but I want to say give him time,” said Guardiola.

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

Chelsea failed to produce any attempts in the first half and Potter described it as “painful.”

Potter said it could be because of an injury crisis that forced him to drop nine players and give teenager Bashir Humphreys a chance to make his defensive debut.

But the 47-year-old controller said their offering needed to be repaired immediately.