Chelsea news: New manager Graham Potter plans to build a ‘humble team’ as debut nears
- Seb Sternik
- 13 September 2022
In his first press conference as the Chelsea manager, Graham Potter has vowed to build a team with an identity as he prepares to mark his debut against RB Salzburg.
Potter took over the vacant managerial position at Stamford Bridge following the shock sacking of Thomas Tuchel.
The former Brighton boss was unable to make his debut last weekend in the Premier League due to the postponement of fixtures following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Instead, Potter will make his Blues debut on Wednesday in what has become an important Champions League clash against RB Salzburg.
"You have to look at the football club, tradition, size and quality of the club to compete at the top of the Premier League," said Potter when asked about the scale of the job. "It is a completely different challenge to what I have even though I had three fantastic years at Brighton."
When asked whether taking the role was a risk, the 47-year-old said: "Life is about risks. No one knows what will happen in the future.
"I left England when I was 30 years old and I went to a club that had sacked their manager every year for the last five years, in the fourth tier of Swedish football [Ostersunds]. I left a secure job and my wife's business for an opportunity.
"I've taken careful steps in my career over the last 17 years, I've not just jumped t things. I've tried to understand what was involved and what the next challenge means. That is what life is."
Potter refused to look too far into the future, though he did admit that competing across all competitions is a minimum requirement at the club.
"All my thoughts are on tomorrow night, that's the first thing," said Potter.
"We need to compete here, that's how it is. I have respect for the Premier League and the Champions League, but we are Chelsea.
"There are no guarantees, resources alone aren't enough. It's about connecting with our supporters, working every day at Cobham, getting that understanding of how we want to play football.
"Success is to see improvement and be competing to win."
He added: "I'll promise I'll do my very best every single day. The team I would like to see is one that is balanced in attack and defence. A humble team, a respectful team.
"We want to create our own team, our identity. It's recognising that we want supporters to see what we're trying to do."
