Graham Potter stated during his first press conference as the club’s new head coach that accepting the Chelsea position would be a mistake.
Potter signed a five-year contract with Chelsea last week and was formally introduced as the club’s new manager last week after leaving Brighton & Hove Albion.
Potter acknowledged that it was difficult to leave Brighton, but he simply couldn’t pass up the chance to take over in west London in a press conference prior to his first match as the Blues manager, against RB Salzburg in the Champions League.
“I’m not going to lie, it’s been a whirlwind in terms of leaving Brighton,” Potter admitted. “The job is too big to turn down, it felt right for me.”
When asked about what he believes will be his main job at the club, Potter replied: “My main job is to help the players that are here and put a team on the pitch that the supporters can be proud of.
“I can promise that I will do my best every single day. We want a balanced between attack and defence. We want to create our own team, our own identity. We will fight every day for it.”
The 47-year-old also spoke about managing his first Champions League match after managing Ostersunds in the Europa League. He also acknowledged that this will be his first time attending a top-level European match in person.
“My experience [of the Champions League] is just as a supporter,” Potter admitted.
“Going through the Europa League groups was a fantastic experience of European football, but you’re right this is an amazing evening for us [playing in the Champions League]. Off the top of my head, I don’t think I have [been to a Champions League game], so it’s a good time to go in the dugout, why not?
“I respect everything that this club has achieved. Wherever we start is going to be brilliant, so why not start here [in the Champions League].”
