I will not Change my attitude and demeanor; Potter shows grace under pressure as boos grow louder
I will not Change my attitude and demeanor; Potter shows grace under pressure as boos grow louder.
Potter is not bowing to pressure and also he has also said that he is not going to change his demeanor he has now towards Chelsea matches and the coming matches too.
Graham Potter says he does his best to block out the ‘noise’ from his critics, as Chelsea lurch from one disappointment to another, but he and his staff would need earplugs to drown out the booing from home supporters that saw off his side after another dismal defeat.
The calls for Potter to go were loud and numerous from around the dugout, and when it was put to him afterwards that it cannot be nice to hear, he said: “I think you’re asking and answering the question. What am I going to say?
“But at the same time, when results aren’t going well, this is the world we’re in. There’s a transition and there’s factors, but at the same time, it’s emotion and the team’s losing and and we’ve had the results we’ve had, so you can also understand it.
“I’m not stupid, I’m not naive. My job is to is to try and keep going, help the team, support them through a tough period and take the criticism.”
One of the criticisms of Potter is that his phlegmatic persona suggests he is not as passionate as some previous managers, most notably Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte and Tuchel, who were all far more animated on the touchline and angry in their media appearances after defeats.
But Potter says he cannot, and will not, change his demeanour.
“You can only be yourself and and try your best to be yourself. I get it, when you lose, there’s always something you can do or should change. I’ve always been this way. It’s got me to this point, but at the same time, I also know that the people want something different.”
The calm way Potter accepted defeat was in stark contrast to the joyous celebrations of Selles, who could not have done more in his first audition to take over on a full-time basis. The Spaniard was animated from the start, whipping up Saints fans before kick-off and celebrating with them at the end of their first double over Chelsea in 35 years. He made it clear he would like the job, and could be appointed this week if the players have any say in it.
Ward-Prowse said afterwards. “We are delighted for him. He has come in and shown a real calmness. We build from this now and don’t look back. It feels like a bit of a fresh start. We just have to go out, deliver and believe in ourselves.”
The belief is mutual, as Selles described Ward-Prowse as the best of his kind from 25 yards. The Saints skipper is now only one away from David Beckham’s Premier League record of 18 goals from direct free-kicks, and Selles said: “I hope he breaks the record under me. I don’t think there will be a better one in the history of the Premier League.”
Meanwhile Potter needs to find a solution for Chelsea’s problems. “There are reasons, but I know that we have to do better. It’s not acceptable to lose one nil at home here. And any criticism I get is fair.”
