Graham Potter says critics of Chelsea boss ‘don’t know anything about anything’ if they think he got to the top without ever being angry | Football News

Chelsea head coach Graham Potter says critics do not know ‘anything about anything’ if they think he has got where he is in his career without getting angry.

The Blues boss was questioned for the low-key reaction to his team being denied a late penalty in the Premier League draw against West Ham on Saturday when Tomas Soucek made a diving stop to handle the ball.

A number of former professionals were left surprised by Potter’s considered reaction to what had appeared to be an incendiary decision, going on to suggest that his players would have welcomed more emotion from their coach.

In his pre-match press conference before Chelsea’s Champions League tie against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, Potter was asked what does make him angry and replied: “Apart from these questions? I must be careful not to get into a discussion with the media.”

He continued: “Of course, I get angry. I am a human being just like you. But I choose to conduct myself the way I choose to conduct myself on the side.

“The same media talking about me [needing to be] more angry are then running stories about the problems of referees in grassroots football and don’t see the connection.

“It is an emotional thing. I have a responsibility to myself, Chelsea and the game to act the right way for me.

“If you think you can start a coaching career in ninth tier of English football, in the Northern Counties, and get to this point now with Chelsea in the Champions League without getting angry or just being nice, I would suggest that you don’t know anything about anything.”

Potter was speaking while preparing to take charge of a Champions League knockout game for the first time in his career and revealed his excitement at the challenge ahead.

“Absolutely, it would be strange if I wasn’t because this is the knockout stage of the Champions League, the pinnacle in terms of the game. It is a great test against a fantastic team in front of 80,000 people, a wonderful occasion. We are all looking forward to the match.”

With Chelsea having won two of their last 12 games in all competitions, they come into the game in poor form and still trying to integrate the many new signings.

“We have the squad we have, a Chelsea squad we are really excited about, but it is challenging and there is work to do. Whenever forming a new group, it takes time to understand each other and work out what make us tick.”

With so many new arrivals at Stamford Bridge, there was some humour later in the press conference in Dortmund when Cesar Azpilicueta was asked about the backlog of initiation songs for new players.

“Tonight was a good day to do it,” said the veteran defender. “But we left a few behind in London! We leave them for a Premier League game. We prefer to do it in one [go].

“The queue is long, as you said.”

For his part, Azpilicueta did reveal that the West Ham penalty had angered him.

What did he think of Potter’s reaction to the decision?

“The truth is, I was angry when I was watching the iPad on the bench. It was a mad decision that we were not awarded a penalty. That’s the truth. It was unfair for us not the get the chance to win a penalty.

“But I’ve been with different managers who have expressed themselves in a different way but there’s nothing more that I can add.”