Graham Potter has stated that accepting the role as Chelsea’s new head coach was too wonderful of a chance to overlook during his first Champions League press conference.
After leaving Brighton & Hove Albion, Potter signed a five-year contract with Chelsea and was officially unveiled as the team’s new manager last week.
Ahead of his first game in charge of the Blues, in a Champions League encounter against RB Salzburg, Potter told reporters that while leaving Brighton was difficult, he couldn’t pass up the chance to take over the west London side.
“I’m not going to lie, it’s been a whirlwind in terms of leaving Brighton. The job is too big to turn down, it felt right for me.” – Potter admitted.
When asked what he believed would be his main duty on the team, the 47-year-old answered:
“My main job is to help the players that are here and put a team on the pitch that the supporters can be proud of. I can promise that I will do my best every single day. We want a balanced between attack and defence. We want to create our own team, our own identity. We will fight every day for it.” – Potter said
The Englishman also discussed leading Ostersunds to victory in the Europa League before taking charge of his first Champions League encounter. Additionally, he recognized that this will be his first time personally leading a squad to a top-tier European competition.
“My experience [of the Champions League] is just as a supporter. Going through the Europa League groups was a fantastic experience of European football, but you’re right this is an amazing evening for us [playing in the Champions League].” – he said.
He further noted;
“Off the top of my head, I don’t think I have [been to a Champions League game], so it’s a good time to go in the dugout, why not? I respect everything that this club has achieved. Wherever we start is going to be brilliant, so why not start here [in the Champions League].”