Graham Potter won't ask for time or patience at Chelsea despite long-term vision
Chelsea head coach Graham Potter insists he won’t ask for time despite signing a long-term contract because of knowing patience is earned through results.
The 47-year-old was given a five-year contract in September by the club’s new owners after he replaced Thomas Tuchel as head coach.
He drew his first game in charge against RB Salzburg in the Champions League and will manage his first Premier League game for the Blues on Saturday afternoon against Crystal Palace.
Potter is under pressure to get results immediately. Chelsea have 13 games between Crystal Palace and Newcastle United before the World Cup begins in mid-November and the domestic season comes to a halt.
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Chelsea will be keen to leave themselves in a good spot in the Premier League, as well as qualifying for the Champions League knockouts.
But Potter won’t ask for time or patience and will stay focused on improving the squad and trying to get the best return of results in the coming weeks in the hope of beginning his tenure on a positive note.
Ahead of their clash against Crystal Palace, Potter admitted: “I don’t want to be that guy who is asking for time. The coaching process, it helps if you have time.
“We’re in a world where there isn’t a lot of patience. All I can do is try my best, improve, work with the players.”
He added: “Change is good and it’s bad. It’s challenging. It’s how you deal with it and work with it.
“It’s well documented what’s happened in terms of ownership, the coach, different people. It’s life and how you manage it.
“It’s more than a short term challenge, how you align the sources you have, football idea to make it successful.
“The past, resources, history doesn’t guarantee anything in this league.
"There’s a lot of clubs that spend a lot of money and don’t achieve what they want to.
“The strategy has to be clear. Life or death is a bit dramatic, it is what it is. I can’t control people’s perception.
“I focus on the next match, training session and how to improve the team.”
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Topics: Chelsea, Graham Potter, Premier League, Football
Matthew Debono