Graham Potter has said the Chelsea owners’ vision for the club convinced him to join. The 47-year-old replaced Thomas Tuchel as manager last week after leaving Brighton. “It’s the start of a really exciting period, I think,” he told Chelsea’s website. “New ownership, who I was really, really excited with and impressed by, firstly as people and then their vision for the club and what they wanted to do. “Of course, the history of the club speaks for itself, but it’s about trying to create that again in our own way.” Potter joins with Chelsea sixth in the Premier League and his first game will be Wednesday’s Champions League visit of RB Salzburg after Saturday’s trip to Fulham was postponed because of the Queen’s death. “You can create a team where the players enjoy playing, which can transmit to the supporters,” he said. “Ultimately the most important connection at a club is between the team and supporters. “We like to play in an attacking way, a balanced way, and players have to feel free to make decisions and express themselves.
It’s about winning, creating a team which competes, is honest and works together; it’s a combination between football and human values. “You have to understand they are human beings first.
The key thing is to understand them, what motivates them and what they are like as people. From that come to some common ground and build relationships, communicate on a daily basis, build respect, trust and honesty.