Graham Potter spoke of his excitement and pride at having been appointed as West Ham United’s new Head Coach, as he sat down to chat with the gathered press just a day before his first match in charge away at Aston Villa.
An Emirates FA Cup third-round trip to Villa Park offers the new boss a quick opportunity to see his Hammers players in action, and while he looks to quickly implement a plan for the game on Friday night, he is also determined to set the foundations for long-term success at the Club.
The 49-year-old has arrived in east London boasting an impressive CV, having guided Swedish outift Östersund to three promotions in five seasons to the top-flight, to the Swedish Cup and the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League, before going on to enjoy eye-catching spells with Swansea City and Brighton & Hove Albion back in the UK.
Potter’s last job in management came at our Premier League rivals Chelsea, where he spearheaded a run to the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, and now after an extended break away from the game, he is itching for a return to the technical area in east London.
The former England youth international defender emphasised why the role in the Irons’ hotseat was the perfect opportunity for him at this stage of his career, and he discussed how he plans to approach the quick turnaround ahead of the trip up to the Midlands.
The appointments of Bruno, Narcís Pelach and Billy Reid to his backroom team were also confirmed by Potter, and he touched on how they plan to work with the rest of the West Ham staff and fanbase to deliver sustained success on and off the field...
Immediate emotions
I’m very excited to be here, and very proud to be the Head Coach of this amazing Club.
There’s a big tradition here, big history and expectation, and it’s going to be a big challenge, but at the moment I’m just really excited. It feels like Christmas Day!
I didn’t have the best night’s sleep last night, because of the excitement, but now I’m really looking forward to meeting the players and the supporters, and just to get going.
Why West Ham?
It’s been a break of 20 months, and I’ve enjoyed a good break and a good rest. As you can imagine, during that time you speak to lots of people, but it was important I chose the right option for me, at the right time, and as soon as I spoke to this Club, it just felt right for me.
It was a combination of factors, rather than one specific thing. I spoke to the board, and to other people connected to the Club, and I looked at the squad and the Academy, and it just felt right. Everyone I’ve spoken to has been really positive, and I’ve been impressed with their ambition, professionalism, and their desire for the Club to improve and work together as a family.
As I said, I’m delighted to be here at a tremendous Club with fantastic people and a passionate fanbase, and I just feel that it’s a perfect fit.
The job at hand
There’s a recent history of success here, and that’s what we want to work towards. It’s only my first day, so meeting the players and preparing for tomorrow’s match against Aston Villa is the main focus right now.
But, in my experience, I think that if you can build a team that is recognisable on the pitch, that the supporters can identify with and be proud of, you can get trust between the squad and the fans, which is key.
We need to show personality, togetherness, fight and quality, because we know the supporters will buy into that and then they’ll give us everything. That’s the job.
Having everyone aligned in terms of what we want to achieve, how we want to play football and how we use the resources we have is really important. I want us all to enjoy the journey, and to be excited about it.
Backroom appointments
I’ve brought in Bruno Saltor [as Assistant Coach], who I’ve worked with at my previous clubs, certainly in the UK. Then there’s Narcís Pelach [as First-team Coach], a young coach who is excellent on the grass and with the players, and Billy Reid [as First-team Coach], who I’ve worked with for a long time. That’s the core group, but I’m also looking forward to working with the staff who are already here at the Club.
There’ll be a lot of talented people I’ll get to meet and work with, I’m sure, and part of our approach is to be collaborative, and to work together. We need everybody to be pulling in the same direction, to be aligned, and we all need to use the resources we have.
In the Premier League, the standards and demands are very high, so unless you are all moving forward together, it becomes very difficult. It’s going to be difficult, but everything so far has been really positive and I’m really looking forward to what’s to come.
Personal ambitions
I’ve heard Pep Guardiola say recently that he’s still got something to prove, so if that’s the case then we all have. The reality is that in professional sport you’ve always got something to prove every day, but that strives you forward.
I’m comfortable in my own skin, with who I am and what I’ve done, but no-one’s perfect. It’s about taking the successes, accepting the setbacks and making things stronger. I think I’m a better person and coach now for the experiences I’ve had, and I’m well rested. I had 12 years non-stop as a coach, but I’ve had time to reflect, and now I’m delighted to be here.
Coming in mid-season
I’ve gone into a job after the season has started before, but every context and situation is different.
I’ve done it before though, when you have to deal with what’s ahead of you and go into the job with open eyes. I think that experience will help because I’m a bit wiser, and I’ve gained knowledge from doing it before.
Really, there’s no right or wrong time, and when the right opportunity comes up, you have to take it. I’m here now, and I can’t wait to get started.
On-field approach
I think balance is the key thing. You can talk about attacking football, but if you’re not balanced it becomes very difficult.
That’s how I’ve always thought about football. Of course you want to attack and play good football, but like in life there needs to be balance and that’s something we’ll look to address.
I need to work with the players, and learn about them. I know some bits from being on the outside, but until you get under the bonnet you don’t know for sure. I’m excited to meet them all, build good relationships with them, and do my best for the supporters.
