Potter: I’ve always had the support of the players
11 MAR 2023
With a Premier League game today, our head coach talks about match priorities, confidence levels and finishing off a good week…
Following Tuesday night’s success at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s season continues on in two competitions with a Champions League quarter-final awaiting in mid-April.
Before then comes a run of games in the Premier League, beginning with today’s visit to Leicester City. However with the European competition presenting a route, albeit a famously tough one, to potential silverware at the end of the season, does there come a time when that might be prioritised over domestic fixtures like the ones the Blues face immediately?
It is a question Graham Potter has been addressing ahead of our outing at the King Power.
‘I understand the question but it's almost second-guessing loads of things,’ our head coach points out. ‘I'd rather just focus on the next game, focus on Leicester and how we win that, how we keep things rolling, because you can tie yourself in knots. Ultimately just keep it simple - the next match - and try to win it.
‘Historically the club has won the Champions League and some of these players in the dressing room have won the Champions League,’ Potter continues, acknowledging past achievement on the big stage when league form has not necessarily been at its best. ‘Some have moved on or have been injured, and new players have come in.
‘There has been a period of transition over the two windows, a lot has happened, so maybe in terms of consistent performance levels and getting the consistent results that we want, we're not quite at that point. But on any given day, I think it is fair to say we can match any team in the Premier League, but we need to do it more often.’
Raised confidence levels throughout the squad are likely to boost a quest for greater consistency. It increases the chances of players feeling free to express themselves in the heat of the real battle and attempt to bring to the pitch what has been worked on at Cobham.
‘Two wins make it easier, but you don’t get anything at Leicester for what we did a couple of days ago,’ stresses Potter. ‘We have to start again and we have to build on the momentum, build on the positive feelings we had in the game and after the game [against Dortmund].
‘It's going to be a tough game at Leicester, they are fighting for the points. They'll want to win as well, but the boys are looking forward to it, they are in a good place.
‘I think I’ve always had the support of the players. They've always been there. They've always tried, they’ve always given their best. Unfortunately the results haven't been what we want and then pressure can make things more challenging, but we need to keep moving forward.
‘I said before the Leeds game that we see a lot of positive things on the training ground. It's just transferring it to the game. Sometimes it's a bit of a process, you have to go through some tough periods, but the quality of the players is there for sure.
‘It was about us as a team collectively saying okay, how can we find the best way for us to get the consistent performances and consistent results. It’s been a good week but we need to finish it off with another performance and result. The best way to convince people you're on the right path is to win, and players are the same.’
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