Speaking on Monday Night Football, Graham Potter discussed links to Man Utd and England, plus what it was like to work with current United sporting director Dan Ashworth at Brighton.
After a 3-0 defeat to Tottenham on Super Sunday, Erik ten Hag’s tenure at Old Trafford is once again under the microscope – although Sky Sports News understands he retains the backing of United’s football leadership structure, who have no immediate plans for a change of manager.
There had been reports in the summer that the club’s hierarchy were sounding out other managers, with Potter’s name linked to the role.
When asked about the Man Utd job and those previous connections, the former Brighton and Chelsea boss told Monday Night Football: “I am the only coach in world football to be linked with Stoke City and Napoli in the same week.
“A lot of what I’ve read in the media is untrue and false. I take what the media say with a pinch of salt. I’ve had lots of conversations with lots of people.
“For the respect of everybody, it’s best I keep it private.
“I don’t think anything is impossible but jobs are difficult. That’s the reality of life in the Premier League. If you’re a big club like Manchester United and you’re not in the top six, then there’s always going to be scrutiny.
“Sometimes you have to look beyond the results and look at the performances.
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“They’ve missed a lot of chances and sometimes teams go through that where you don’t start reflecting your xG [expected goals], and then a bad day comes along [like on Sunday] and the clouds come over pretty quickly – that’s what they’re facing.”
Potter faced similar pressures during his time at Chelsea, which he eventually left in April 2023, and gave his insight into what that is like.
He said: “The challenge is to try to have some perspective, to try to rationalise what’s actually happened, to speak logically.
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“After a game, everybody’s emotional because football is about emotions, it’s about feelings. Fans are hurting, they want to have answers, they want to blame somebody, and sometimes it is the manager. Sometimes we make mistakes and we’re not perfect.
“But it’s part of the job, it’s part of what we sign up for, and I’m sure Erik would say the same. It’s what he expects at Manchester United. If you don’t win, or you don’t play well, or you lose, then people are going to be critical.
“Whoever lost that game felt like they were going to be under pressure. It wasn’t so long back that people were talking about Ange [Postecoglou], about no tactics or no plan B, and all of a sudden he’s won four on the trot and everything’s great for him.
“You need to try and get enough results and then you’ve got to work with your players, stick to what you want to do, and take the club forward as best you can.”
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‘I’m supportive in whatever the FA decides’
Another job that is currently vacant is the England men’s manager after Gareth Southgate left a few months ago. U21s coach Lee Carsley has taken interim charge since.
Potter again was linked to the role, and when quizzed, he said: “As an Englishman, of course it’s a fantastic job but I’m supportive of whatever the FA decide to do and whoever the coach is.
“I think Gareth [Southgate] did a fantastic job and I’m sure Lee [Carsley] – for however long it is – will do really well.”
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Monday Night Football special guest Graham Potter explains how he wanted former club Brighton to play during his tenure
On whether he would prefer a job in club football as opposed to the international game, Potter added: “I’m open to anything, to be honest.
“I’ve had a fantastic journey over the last 12 years from the fourth tier of Swedish football to the last eight of the Champions League and I would like to spend the next 12 years in the same position, developing players, teams, working with people and making a difference.
“Wherever that is, I’m open to everything.”
‘Ashworth will want to help at Man Utd’
Dan Ashworth is the current sporting director at Man Utd
Potter has experience of working with Man Utd sporting director Dan Ashworth, with the pair colleagues at Brighton.
When asked if Ashworth could help restore Man Utd to former glories, Potter replied: “Yeah, absolutely.
“I think Dan’s part of a team there. He’ll want to support, he’ll want to help and that’s my experience with Dan.
“I don’t know anything about the context of Manchester United but my experience of Dan at Brighton was he was very supportive. He would challenge at the right time, but want to help and be there for you.
“Football clubs have to create conditions for coaches to be successful.”
‘I thought Chelsea owners would change culture’
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Speaking on Monday Night Football, former Chelsea manager Graham Potter speaks about his experiences at the club and the struggles he faced.
Speaking about his time at Chelsea, Potter has said the team were in a state of “flux” during his time at the club and he will “learn” from the experience.
Potter was appointed in September 2022 but lasted fewer than eight months in the role before being sacked by the club.
He said of his tenure: “After speaking to the owners, they were very ambitious. They wanted to challenge for trophies and use younger players.
“The chance to have that opportunity to work with younger players and build an environment. We did some things well.
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“All of a sudden there was a bit of adjustment to be done while still trying to compete, the whole team was in a bit of flux. There was a lot of adjusting.
“It’s impossible to play everybody in every minute. Finding that stability was a bit of a struggle. You live and you learn. It was a very turbulent period in Chelsea’s history. I wish I had done better.”
Asked if it has made him hungrier for his next challenge, Potter added: “I know my ability and know what I can do. It has to be the right opportunity and has to be the right thing for me.
“The culture at Chelsea over a period of time has got them success so I respect that. I suppose you could feel that from the outside, the media and the supporters. Perhaps the mistake I made was that I thought with new ownership there would be a change of culture.
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“But culture runs a lot deeper than that. Before the World Cup, we’d only lost three matches in the Premier League – one to Arsenal, who were top at the time, and to Newcastle and Brighton away – but the world was closing in and we were close to crisis.
“Perspective is not always easy to get, and at the time Chelsea were used to winning and competing.
“It was easy to say it must be the coach as he’s not used to playing at this level or worked at this level. Maybe he was the problem, and I could understand that as the results weren’t what they expected.”