‘Dressing room leaders can move us forward’
12 JAN 2023
The experienced members of the Chelsea squad, those who have seen and done it all before, have been speaking to Graham Potter this week about what is required to get the Blues back on track.
Potter revealed he turned to four players – club captain Cesar Azpilicueta and vice-captain Jorginho, as well as Thiago Silva and Mateo Kovacic – to discuss our current form.
As much as the head coach can work to turn things around during training and with pre-match tactical advice, it is also up to the players to deliver when they step over the white line, even if Potter knows it is rarely as simple as that.
‘I spoke at length on Tuesday with Thiago, with Azpi, with Jorgi, with Kova, a really good conversation,’ he revealed.
‘They showed their qualities as people again. They’re honest. They articulate their concerns well, they articulate their positivity, they articulate their responsibility. That’s why I think we are in a place where we can move forward.
‘It is an experienced team,’ he added. ‘The players are honest, they want to take their responsibilities. They want to improve, they want to win. There’s a lot there we are fortunate with.
‘At the same time, we are in a tough moment and these are challenges that affect the players as well. They are human beings. I know they’re paid to do their job but they’re not robots. They’re still affected by results and the transition phase at the club, but I’ve been really impressed.’
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Potter: Change is hard but a fascinating challenge
12 JAN 2023
Graham Potter believes the challenge of guiding Chelsea through an unprecedented period of change is one to savour as he looks to rebuild form on the pitch with our trip to Fulham tonight.
The Blues are back in Premier League action hoping to move up the table at Craven Cottage, the home of our local neighbours and a short journey down the road from our south-west London base.
Marco Silva’s side are three points and three places above us in seventh ahead of the clash following a patchy run of form from Potter’s men either side of the FIFA World Cup break. However, the Chelsea head coach insists leading the club into this fresh era under new ownership remains an exciting prospect.
‘Change is challenging in any organisation,’ he said. ‘The change happened because of events outside of us, it wasn’t a coup, so we have to deal with the new now. That was part of the challenge for me to come here.
‘I understood that it was going to be really difficult but I thought from a leadership perspective it’s fascinating, challenging, stimulating and ridiculously hard. It’s probably the hardest job in football because of that leadership change and the expectations and how people rightly see Chelsea.
‘Obviously I didn’t think we’d lose 10 first team players [to injury] as well but that’s where we’re at. All I can do is speak honestly, give my perspective and understand the criticisms you get when you lose.’
While guiding the Blues through this difficult spell may appear tough from the outside looking in, Potter is maintaining a positive mindset.
‘When you lose and don’t get results, it’s painful but you have to take responsibility,’ he said. ‘I can’t be the Chelsea manager and not expect pressure or trouble or challenge or stress. You have to show up and lead the group.
‘I’m really grateful and privileged to be here. The way you get through this tough period is to be really grateful for it because it’s an unbelievable challenge.’
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以下內容出自 football.london：
Every word Graham Potter said on Chelsea form, Joao Felix signing, Pulisic, Sterling, Aubameyang
By Adam Newson, Chelsea correspondent - UPDATED 14:49, 11 JAN 2023
．Do you feel under pressure, maybe the most pressure you’ve had in management so far?
“You always feel pressure and the higher you go the more pressure and noise there is from the outside. At a club like Chelsea, with the responsibility, the history, the tradition, the demands when you don’t get the results you went, then of course there is noise and criticism. It’s everything you expect, but you have to put it into perspective, keep going with the job, try to improve, stay strong and get through.”
．Looking back on the performance in the Premier League against Man City, how encouraging was that?
“It was a positive performance overall. We were pleased with lots of things we did. After the game, it wasn’t easy to recover from the two key players we lost [to injury] but the players did it in a good way. Manchester City are a top opponent but having said that, we matched them and it was an even game at Stamford Bridge. So there were positives to take.”
．How impressed have you been with Fulham this season?
“He’s done a fantastic job. Promotion and they’ve had the belief to build on that. They’re really well organised in and out of possession, know exactly what they’re doing, and they are a tough team to play. They’re doing a fantastic job.”
．Do you expect Fulham to play with a lot of courage at home tomorrow?
“They'll play with courage, personality. The points they have are not an accident, they’ve earned them and deserve them. They're up there on merit and they’ve got the points on merit. It’s a tough game, a London derby, and we're looking forward to it.”
．How do you handle the criticism that you’ve received?
“You have to understand that it’s part of the job. I think you only have to look at some of my colleagues in a similar position, Pep [Guardiola] for example in his first season was criticised quite heavily. Mikel [Arteta] has had to endure a period of criticism. Jurgen Klopp would’ve got some criticism as well and these guys are fantastic. So you understand. Football is emotional and when you lose, you don’t think about it, you feel it. You feel the pain, the suffering, the discomfort.
"Sometimes it is hard to understand the why and it’s easier to just blame somebody. I’m not sitting here saying I’ve been absolutely perfect, so they’re not completely wrong. But it’s always very complex. You just try to put it into perspective and remember you’re capable and how you got here.
"Two months ago, I was considered to be a top coach and if you consider the people I’ve played against and with, they’d say the same. But at the same time I acknowledge the results haven’t been good enough and then you have to accept and deal with that as best you can, put it in perspective, and try to move forward.”
．Have you spoken to the owners and what have they said to you?
“I’ve been in regular dialogue with the owners and they’ve been really supportive, fantastic. We speak on a regular basis, two or three times a week, and they’ve been really supportive.”
．Is one of your big challenges trying to lift the players because I suspect a lack of confidence is an issue?
“It wasn’t so long ago that we played well against Bournemouth. We played a good game against Manchester City [at home] but the second game at the Etihad, given the form we’re in, isn’t the best fixture you could ask for that’s for sure. We’re not in a top, top moment but these guys are experienced honest, and they’ve been fantastic to work with throughout. They’re hurting just like everyone else so we have to take our responsibility, do our best, and get the three points.”
．It’s not going to be a quick fix getting Chelsea back to where they were, but how much time do you think you’ll need?
“It’s not like I can give you a timeframe, that would be strange if I had the intelligence to see ahead of time like that. At the moment, if you look at where we’re at in terms of the players that are unavailable, it can skew the picture a little bit. If we had those guys back, the picture changes. I really believe that.
"I don’t think we’re as far away as we may think from the outside but at the same time, we have to keep going from window to window to improve the squad, improve the culture, develop the football idea, and keep moving forward. As much as these periods are not nice – and they’re not – you have to use them as a way to be stronger. At the time it isn’t pleasant though.”
．Do you feel top four is still the objective?
“That’s always an aim. We've still got a lot of points to play for but I would be wasting my time if I was worrying about what we’re going to do in five months’ time. I’ve got to focus on the next day’s training and the next match. We can improve a lot and be a lot more positive quickly with results, with improved performances, and the picture can change quickly. But at the moment we are suffering and have to accept that and work through it.”
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Graham Potter makes admission following Chelsea's 'painful' Man City defeat ahead of Fulham
By Scott Trotter, Chelsea writer - 07:00, 12 JAN 2023
Following defeat to Manchester City, there was clearly a hint of frustration in Graham Potter as he sat down for his post-match press conference. He remained willing to engage with the media's questions but there was an obvious dissatisfaction with the manner of defeat.
The Blues boss has become more familiar than he would have liked with the feeling of defeat since taking over the Chelsea hot-seat. Since going unbeaten through his opening nine matches in charge, he has since recorded just two wins in his last 10 games.
Potter has met with senior players in a bid to turn Chelsea's form around, and revealed ahead of the weekend that the presentation he puts forward to the media, does not expose his true emotions.
Defeat certainly has an impact on him, however.
Potter said: "After a game I am not a very pleasant person, in terms of it hurting me. Absolutely. I have to come up and talk to you guys directly after a game, and it is not quite putting on a show, but I have to deal with that as part of my job. When you lose, or don’t get the results, it is painful, it really is. It affects your family. As much as you try to have balance and perspective, I am a human as well and it is a struggle.
"At the same time, you have to take responsibility, ultimately. What am I going to do? Be the Chelsea manager and not expect pressure, trouble, challenge, stress - it would be strange of me to do that. You have to take responsibility. You have to show up. You have to lead the group and lead the team. Half the time, by the time I get to speak to you again, I am in a good place."
Potter does not regret his decision to come to Chelsea or into this line of work, however. Does he feel guilty for the impact on his family?
"I don’t think guilt. I don’t think so," said the 47-year-old. "They know there are pluses and minuses to the job. And ultimately, I am not after pity here. I am really grateful and privileged to be here. How do you get through this tough period? Be really grateful for it. Because it is an unbelievable challenge. I mean, wow, what else could you be doing with your life? Worse. It is pain, but then life can be more painful.
"Life can really kick you in the nuts and you have to recover from it, deal with it, move forward. And that’s what makes life better - when it moves to a good place. I feel like I have to take more responsibility and I have to be grateful for the challenge and the opportunity that I have."
Potter's first four months in charge of the Blues have already encapsulated a number of ups and downs. It wasn't long into his tenure that he was already being linked with a departure to take the reigns of the England national team.
Social media has been espoused tones of support and vitriol for Potter in recent months. The 47-year-old believes the criticism is something he has to accept, even if he intends to not listen to the majority of the furore that is released whether it be positive on negative.
He explained: "Easiest answer is you don’t listen to the majority of it because you’d be crazy if you did. You have to acknowledge the criticism because its not like I’m sitting here absolutely perfect. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We live in a world of social media.
"You guys have a tough job I think because you’ve got to write balanced and fair pieces but what gets clicks is contentious headlines. So if you go onto social media it is mostly negative, I would say in any area, and we are still trying to work out how to deal with that.
"You can post something anonymously on social media, you don’t know where its coming from but it is out there and it becomes the truth. I think that is probably a challenge for us all on how you deal with the noise.
"Two or three months ago we hadn't lost a game. I've been doing this job for 12 years. I could probably sit here and talk to you about what I've achieved and people I could use as references for me. But there's no point in me doing that because I understand the world we are in, there's noise and criticism out there and that is fine. You just have to deal with it."
Potter has not always been so good at keeping away from the noise that football brings. Despite his success at Ostersunds, the Chelsea head coach did not enjoy the most positive reception from everyone in his opening months at the club. Forums were not particularly kind and on the advice of his wife and former chairman, Potter was soon avoiding opinions on the internet.
He said: "It started around then! I used to speak about this with my wife because she would say 'It doesn’t do you any good looking at that.'
"It doesn’t do you any good reading comments because you don’t know where it’s come from and there’s a lot of angry people in the world and my ex-chairman said - it's a great line - 'there’s no point arguing with stupid people because they’re stupid.'
"I'm not saying anybody criticising me is stupid at all, but you get my point. It’s hard to take anything from it. At the same time, it’s part of the job, there’s always a point to it as well, and you want to get a sense of where people are, especially when you’re in a foreign country. But it’s hard.
"Human beings want to be liked. We all want to be liked, really, but we understand that in this room there will be two out of five that don’t like me and they won’t like you either. In the end, it doesn’t do you any good and it’s not great for your mental health, and you just have to understand that it’s out there.
"People can say whatever they want, it’s a free country, I appreciate that. And then I have to stay focused on what I can do and what I can control."
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