GRAHAM POTTER has the job, the pay packet and a smart new blue tracksuit but still does not fancy himself.
In his former job as Brighton boss Potter claimed he will never be a “sexy” Premier League manager.
Tomorrow, he will take charge of his first Premier League games as Chelsea head coach – regarded as one of football’s plum jobs regardless of the associated risks.
Despite the glitz and glamour that goes with the £10million-a-year salary, plain old Potter is happy as he is.
He said: “I very rarely feel sexy. Maybe you do but I very rarely do.
“I’m intelligent enough to know that I started off in the bottom tier, below the bottom tier and after a process of trial and error and a lot of hard work and a lot of luck and help from other people I’ve got to this point.
“That’s quite a fantastic achievement and something I’m really proud of but at the same time I’m a human being and certainly not perfect and I don’t think that I’ve cracked anything, doesn’t mean that I’ve got all the answers.
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“There is no Lamborghini on order – I am driving the same car I drove when I picked it up in England when I returned to Swansea.
“My life has not changed at all, if I am being honest. Apart from the fact I live in a different place, I am still trying to prepare for the matches, doing the job I am in and getting ready for the challenge ahead.
“I know I’m on a process of carrying on that development, carrying on that journey of trying to improve myself because ultimately if you want players to do the same thing I think you have to role model that behaviour as well.”
The message of utmost humility will be carried from Potter’s office into the dressing room.
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Regardless of who you are and what you have won, the priority is to keep it real and not get carried away.
Potter said: “That’s dangerous for anybody. I respect of course what people have achieved but the hardest thing is the next day. That’s how football is.
“You have to try to improve all the time, try to get better otherwise you’re standing still or going backwards.
“The guys are ambitious, they want to improve, they want to get better, they want to achieve, they want to win. The only way to have that is to have that mentality.
“If you ever have any success or you’re trying to do anything you have to be true to yourself and I’m not saying I’m right or wrong or anything like that, it’s more that I have to be me and part of me is a little bit of self-deprecation.”
Potter, 47, has been in charge for three weeks but only now will his ability to handle the pressure of a Premier League game as manager of an elite club.
The death of The Queen meant two postponements that will cause a fixture pile up at some point.
As ex-Brighton manager, tomorrow will present a tough baptism at Crystal Palace – his former club’s fierce rivals. It will guarantee him a rough reception at Selhurst Park.
At least he has a virtually fully fit squad with no fresh injury concerns from the international break.
During the past two weeks, he has been down to just three players at the training ground while the rest of the squad was away.
Potter has noted one key difference with his old club.
The pedigree and the legacy generated by continued success.
He said: “What we have here is a history and a recognition of photos of people winning major trophies and that’s the main thing.
“That’s where the expectation or the pressure, the difference is.
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“It’s not about facilities, about pitches, it’s more about people, about understanding the difference and context of this football club.
“Top, top managers, legends, major trophies, that’s the difference.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
