Graham Potter has arrived at Stamford Bridge with a mission to entertain.
Potter does not have the pedigree of previous big name managers like Thomas Tuchel, Antonio Conte or Jose Mourinho but he has just as much passion about being a success. There was no declaration about being the “Special One” but a very clear determination to deliver trophies and also to get his team playing the right way.
Potter, 47, said: “We want to entertain also but I’m respectful of the Premier League, respectful of my opponents and there’s a lot of teams that want to do the same and we want to create our own team, our own identity. I want it to be recognisable so supporters recognise what we want to do, can see what we want to do and we’ll fight every day for it.
“I’ve always said the connection between the supporters and the team is the most important thing. I’m the head coach and a member of the team and an important member of the team but no important than anyone else. I’d love their support and everything I’ve heard so far makes me believe I have that and I’m very, very thankful for it.
“In terms of what I can promise, we’re playing a game which is uncontrollable and so I promise I’ll do my best every single day. It’s a big responsibility. The team I want to see is one that’s balanced in terms of attack and defence. Humble team, a respectful team that when it doesn’t have the ball, it runs hard and fights because I think that’s important also.”
Potter is also a beacon of hope for young English managers in getting one of the big Premier League jobs and after having to work his way up as a coach - with non-league Leeds Carnegie, Ostersunds, Swansea and Brighton - the last nine days have been a “whirlwind” by comparison.
There was never any hesitation in Potter’s mind about taking the Chelsea job despite the club’s reputation for hiring and firing managers. Potter said: “Risks? Well if we walk out the road over there, there is a risk. That’s what life is. No-one knows wha’s going to happen in the future.
“When I left England to go to Sweden I think I was working in the ninth tier of English football, I went to the fourth tier of Swedish football so in terms of where I sit now, there’s the bottom, then there’s a load of levels and then there’s me.
“But there was no grand plan, I just focused on doing my best at every club I have been at, try to take responsibility, try to analyse any mistakes you make, try to move forward and then it’s just about life. No-one can predict how it is going to go, no-one knows and that’s why it’s so beautiful.
“It’s been a whirlwind. It’s moved so quickly. Nine days feels like nine weeks or nine months. But it’s been brilliant. The beauty of life, the beauty of football, you never know what is round the corner. I spoke with my immediate family, my wife and my children. My children are 12 and 7, so I didn’t bog them down with it too much!
“But my wife, bless her, has been with me on this journey along the way so it’s important for me to have this conversation. To work with an exciting group of players, to be competitive and to put a team on the pitch that our supporters are really, really proud of. So, I am very excited as you can imagine and really looking forward to getting going.”
It will be a big change for Potter who now takes charge of a dressing room of internationals, European champions and big names. But Potter is relishing the challenge. Potter added: “I think the response has been really positive. A really honest group, a really responsible group. They have been positive around the training ground. They want to achieve, they want to do well.
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“And I’m absolutely happy with the team, happy with the squad. The group has a lot of quality. And I’m looking forward over the next days and weeks getting to know them better and better.
“We need to compete here, that’s how it is. We have to compete and I have respect for the Premier League for the Champions League for the competitions we are in but we’re Chelsea. We want to play football but success is to see improvement and be competing to win.”
