Graham Potter has opened up on the "intense" talks him and his staff had with Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly and the rest of the board before he took the head coach job.
Potter was appointed as the new head coach of the Blues on Thursday of last week, just 24 hours after Thomas Tuchel was sacked from his role. Potter, speaking in his first pre-match press conference as Chelsea boss, has now detailed the reasoning behind his decision.
"The fact you said nine days, it feels like nine weeks or nine months! But yeah, it's been brilliant," Potter said. "The beauty of football, the beauty of life – you never know what's around the corner.
READ MORE: What Graham Potter has done to change Chelsea training as N'Golo Kante missing ahead of FC Salzburg
"Things happened incredibly quickly, we had some very intense conversations with the owners and quickly I realised they were very intelligent people. Intelligent people, who have made a big success of their life outside of football and wanting to achieve something here.
"It's really exciting, the project here is really exciting. The ideas [they had] about taking the club forward. It felt really positive. I'm not going to lie, it's been a whirlwind in terms of getting to know people, leaving Brighton, getting to know the players, getting to know them, but it's been really, really positive.
"My first impressions have been really, really good. I'm looking forward to starting, as you can imagine. I'm really looking forward to starting."
Potter then went into even more detail about his decision. The former Brighton & Hove Albion head coach revealed that the opportunity to manage a club like Chelsea was simply "too big" to turn down.
"We quickly had to make a decision. There were a lot of talks," the Blues boss added. "But like I said, I got a very good feeling towards the owners on a human level. They have a good understanding of what they want to achieve, in the long-term, they have a plan.
"We were happy, secure and we were at a good football club, so you have to acknowledge that as well. But the challenge was too big to turn down. It felt right for me.
"I'll always be respectful and thankful for Brighton & Hove Albion. But this opportunity was too big for us."
Potter will be hoping his first match in charge of Chelsea – and a Champions League debut – against FC Salzburg will be the dream start to life at Stamford Bridge. His side will then have a break until the first weekend of October, with Sunday's match against Liverpool postponed and an international break to follow.
READ NEXT:
Trevoh Chalobah makes Kalidou Koulibaly confession as Chelsea star sets goal under Graham Potter
Graham Potter must do what Thomas Tuchel couldn't and solve Chelsea's own Neymar problem
Graham Potter has freedom Thomas Tuchel didn't with mastermind Billy Gilmour plan in £2m deal
Graham Potter's £12m Thibaut Courtois solution to Chelsea probel as RB Salzburg dilemma arises
Manchester United told they made big mistake by appointing Erik ten Hag instead of Graham Potter
