raham potter has sworn to remain true to himself as Chelsea manager and emphasizes that he does not need to change his personality to succeed in his new environment.
The Englishman takes charge of the Blues for the first time in the season Eredivisie this weekend, as his side makes the journey to meet Crystal Palace in Selhurst Park.
Potter sat in the dugout for Chelsea’s Champions League draw with RB Salzburg for the international break, his typically calm demeanor on the sidelines contrasted sharply with the exuberance of Thomas Tuchel.
That is unlikely to change, despite the size of the job Potter now holds, with the 47-year-old content to hold on to the quiet confidence that has made him successful first in Ostersund and then Swansea and Brighton.
When asked if he wanted to go back on a previous comment that he would never be a “sexy” coach, Potter replied: “I sincerely hope not, would be my instinctive answer.
“I rarely feel sexy! If you’re ever successful or you’re trying to do something, I think you need to stay true to yourself.
“And I’m not saying I’m right or wrong or anything like that, I have to be myself. And being a part of myself is a bit self-deprecating.
“I am intelligent enough to know that I started below the lowest level, and after a process of trial and error and a lot of hard work, luck and help from other people I got to this point.
“And that’s a fantastic achievement and something I’m very proud of. But at the same time I’m human, definitely not perfect and don’t think I’ve cracked anything or have all the answers.”
After taking the job at Chelsea, Potter reflected on his journey from Ostersund, Sweden, to the Premier League, while admitting he could never have imagined getting this far when he first started out as manager.
Ahead of Saturday’s game against Crystal Palace, he revealed his focus is now on winning trophies at Chelsea rather than traveling to the local car dealership.
Graham Potter insists Chelsea job won’t change his personality
/ Chelsea FC via Getty Images“We haven’t moved, our lifestyle hasn’t changed,” Potter said of himself and his family. “We’re not in an open-top car driving through Brighton and Hove, Surrey or Cobham or whatever.
“There is no Lamborghini on order, I’m still driving the same car I picked up in England when I got back from Swansea. So my life hasn’t changed at all if I’m honest.
“Brighton has a wonderful training ground, and in some ways equal if not better in terms of the facilities.
“But what we have here is a history and recognition, pictures of people winning big trophies. And that’s the most important thing. That’s where the expectation, or the pressure, the difference is.
“It’s not about facilities, it’s about people and understanding the difference in the context of this football club. Managers, top players, legends, trophies; that is the difference.
‘But at the same time I’m intelligent enough to know, I think, and I’m aware enough of my own personality to be able to accomplish anything here. And I think if other people have done it, it’s possible for me to do it.
“And I think that’s a pretty good way to think about the challenge.”