- The Englishman was appointed coach of the Blues in 2022 after leading Brighton to ninth place
- He shed light on his time at the club under the new regime led by Todd Boehly.
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Graham Potter has revealed the only mistake he made during a miserable six-month spell as Chelsea boss in a rare television appearance.
The Englishman was appointed Blues manager in September 2022 after a successful spell at Brighton that saw him lead the Seagulls to ninth place in the Premier League table, their highest finish in the competition at the time.
Potter suffered a setback in his first month at Stamford Bridge, falling to a humiliating 4-1 defeat against his former team, and the manager struggled to revive his perception among fans. He was fired in April 2023 with several games left in the season.
Over the last year, Potter has rarely been seen in public but has still been linked with several jobs that offer him a route back into football, including the England job.
In a surprise return to fans’ screens in sky sports‘Monday Night Football, the 49-year-old impressed with his tactical analysis and also shed light on where things went wrong for him in west London.
Graham Potter (left) revealed the only mistake he made during his sad spell as Chelsea manager.
The 49-year-old was sacked as Blues coach in April 2023 after a disappointing spell.
Potter was appointed Blues boss in September 2022 after a successful spell at Brighton.
He said: “The mistake I made was thinking that new ownership means there is a chance of a culture change.”
‘But in reality culture is much deeper than that. Before the World Cup we only lost three games: Arsenal, Newcastle and Brighton, but the world was already getting closer, it was on the brink of crisis.
“Sometimes it is not so easy to get a perspective, Chelsea were used to winning and it was easy to think ‘we are not winning, it must be the manager who has not worked at that level, maybe he is the problem’ and I can understand why What do they think that because the results were not what they expected.’
Potter also shed light on why he fell off the radar after he was sacked by Chelsea 18 months ago, vowing to “come back stronger” after the setback.
“To be honest, it’s been deliberate: spending some time with the family, connecting with them after a 12-year journey that starts in the fourth division of Swedish football and ends in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
‘It’s a trip that doesn’t come free. It’s nice to be able to spend some time with them, connect with them and see what the journey has in store for them.
Potter said his only mistake was “thinking that new ownership (led by Todd Boehly) means there’s a chance for a culture change.”
The former Swansea manager’s appearance on the show was seen by many as an audition to take charge of Manchester United, where Erik ten Hag (pictured) is under pressure.
‘It’s disappointing. It is never pleasant to lose your job, but you have to treat it as a learning experience, you have to treat it as an opportunity to grow and improve.
‘I am grateful for the opportunity I had and grateful for the experience. It was tough and challenging, but there were also some standout moments.
‘It’s about putting it in perspective, not trying to blame yourself entirely, but also not trying to blame others. It’s about finding balance, reflecting and coming back stronger.
‘I’ve (watched a lot of football). “It’s been nice taking my boys to football and it’s nice to see it at my house, away from the prying eyes of the media and the scrutiny that comes with the job.”
Potter joined fellow pundit Jamie Carragher to watch Bournemouth sweep Southampton in a south coast derby, with the home side claiming a 3-1 victory over the newly promoted side.
Potter impressed Manchester United fans with his performance on Monday Night Football
The 49-year-old was praised for his analysis of Southampton, who faced Bournemouth.
The former Swansea manager’s appearance on the show was seen by many as an audition to take charge of Manchester United as he surprised viewers with astute observations about the game.
Erik ten Hag’s future at Old Trafford remains unclear as the manager comes under increasing pressure following his club’s dismal 3-0 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday afternoon.
If the club were to look elsewhere, Potter would be one of the favorites for the job despite having been out of a job for over a year.