Talking Points | Potter on Chelsea, building momentum and support for match officials. Graham Potter is hopeful West Ham United can build on a positive 1-1 draw at Aston Villa last time out and gain further momentum when they make the short trip to Chelsea in the Premier League on Monday night.
The Hammers are set to contest the first of three consecutive London derbies under the lights at Stamford Bridge, armed with another full week of training behind them as they go in search of a second victory under the Head Coach’s tutelage.
Three top-flight games since the 9 January appointment of Potter have yielded one win, one defeat and one draw so far, but – speaking in his pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon – Potter has been buoyed by the progress being made by his players on and off the pitch.
Indeed, a well-deserved point at Villa Park last tme out served as the ideal response to the disappointing reverse at the hands of Crystal Palace just over a week earlier, and now the boss is eyeing more success and an improvement on the side’s 14th-place standing in the table.
A trip to six-time English champions Chelsea promises a tough test, with Enzo Maresca’s outfit currently sitting sixth in the table and comfortably through to the UEFA Europa Conference League round of 16 as the league phase’s highest-ranked team.
The Blues have only registered one win in their last seven in the Premier League however, while they were defeated 3-1 by Manchester City last time out, and Potter is confident the Irons can cause their old rivals problems across the capital.
The fixture is particularly pertinent to our Head Coach, with Monday’s match marking his first back at Chelsea since he left his role as manager of the west Londoners in April 2023. It will also take place on transfer deadline day, with the window set to shut at 11pm GMT.
With the anticipation continuing to build ahead of this enticing clash, Potter sat down with the media to discuss his former club, transfer challenges and work behind the scenes, while he was also asked about abuse aimed at match officials, in the wake of the recent PGMOL statement related to threats directed at Michael Oliver…
It’s going to be a tough game, but we have to go there and play to our strengths, with plenty of encouragement and enthusiasm
It is what it is. I’m looking forward to the game, and I’m probably looking forward to the closing of the window, as well.
It being deadline day doesn’t change anything from my perspective. We’ll just prepare for the game as normal, and focus on the players we have, working behind the scenes on the things we think are right.
Transfer talk
The Club, the board and the Chairman have been fantastic, and really supportive. They want to help, and if anything it’s me and my team trying to find the right players. We’re all aligned, but I want to make the right decisions for this Club.
Signing a player is easy – there are so many agents pushing players left, right and centre. But signing the right one, for the right price, who fits how you want to play, who fits into the group – that’s difficult.
If we find the right player, we’ll absolutely do something, because the ambition is there to do it and the support is there to do it. But at the same time, I have to be true to myself, true to the team and the Club, and make sure it’s the right player, because if not it can cause problems in the short, medium and long term.
It’s a complicated window, as I’ve said before, and I’m not going to speak about anyone who isn’t a West Ham player.
Return to Stamford Bridge
I’m looking forward to it. I’ve been back there as a pundit, but now I’m going back as a Head Coach with another team.
I had some good times at Chelsea, and some special nights against the likes of AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund in the [UEFA] Champions League. Overall, the results weren’t ideal during my time at the club, but I’ve never had a problem with anyone at Chelsea.
I wish them well as a Club, and I’m thankful for my time there because it’s part of my journey. I’m here now, and I’m delighted about that.
Tough Chelsea challenge
I think Enzo Maresca has done a really good job, in terms of stabilising the Chelsea squad and rejuvenating it. They have a lot of talent.
They build in different ways depending on who they’re coming up against, but everything is clear and everything makes sense.
They’re challenging for the Champions League, and they’re at home so will be looking for all three points, so it’s going to be a tough game. But, we have to go there and play to our strengths, with plenty of encouragement and enthusiasm.
