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Chelsea head coach Graham Potter says critics don’t know ‘anything about anything’ if they think he has reached his career without anger.
The Blues boss was questioned for his lackluster reaction to his side being denied a late penalty in the Premier League draw against West Ham on Saturday when Tomas Soucek stopped diving to handle the ball.
Some former pros were surprised by Potter’s reaction to what appeared to be a recriminating decision, continuing to suggest the players would receive more emotion from the coach.
In his pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, Potter was asked what made him angry and replied: “Apart from that question? I have to be careful not to get involved in discussions with the media.”
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FREE to watch: Highlights from West Ham’s draw with Chelsea in the Premier League
He continued: “Of course I’m angry, I’m human like you, but I choose to act like I choose to act on the side.
“The media is talking about me [needing to be] more angry then the story about refereeing problems in grassroots football and not seeing the connection.
“It’s an emotional thing. I have a responsibility to myself, Chelsea and the game to do the right thing for me.
“If you think you can start your coaching career in the ninth tier of English football, in the North Counties, and get to where you are with Chelsea in the Champions League without being angry or just nice, I would advise you to be ignorant of anything.”
Potter said as he prepared to take charge of the Champions League losing a game for the first time in his career and revealed his excitement at the challenge ahead.
He said: “Really, it would be strange if I didn’t because it’s the knockout stage of the Champions League, the pinnacle of the game. It’s a great opportunity. We’re all looking forward to the game.”
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Graham Potter joked it was a good save by Tomas Soucek on Saturday
With Chelsea having won two of their last 12 games in all competitions, they come into the game in poor form and are still trying to integrate many new signings.
“We have the squad we have, the Chelsea squad we like very much, but it’s a challenge and there’s work to be done. Every time we make a new group, it takes time to get to know each other and find out what makes us tick.”
Azpilicueta: Angry at not getting a penalty at West Ham
For his part, Azpilicueta revealed that being denied a penalty at West Ham on Saturday had angered him. What did Potter think of his decision?
“That’s right, I was angry when I watched the iPad on the bench. It was a mad decision that we were not awarded a penalty. That’s the truth. It’s not fair for us not to get a chance to win a penalty.
“But I have been with different managers who have expressed themselves in different ways but nothing can be added.”
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Dermot Gallagher explains and analyzes why he believes Tomas Soucek’s handball against Chelsea should have been awarded a penalty.
The Chelsea captain joked that the club has yet to hold a traditional karaoke start due to the number of new signings arriving in January – particularly as some are ineligible to play for the club due to registration reasons.
Potter left defenders Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke and David Datro Fofana out of the 25-man Champions League squad because of UEFA rules which state that only three new players can be added to the list between the group stage and the knockout stages.
“Tonight is a good day to do it, but we left some in London!” said Azpilicueta about when the initiation will take place.
“We’ll leave them for the Premier League games. We’d rather do it all in one go. The queue is long!”
Potter: Not in the Mudryk-Cucurella spat
Potter denied the dispute between Marc Cucurella and Mykhailo Mudryk
Potter added that there is no truth in the relationship between left wing duo Mykhailo Mudryk and Marc Cucurella after some suspicious activity from the former’s social media accounts.
Mudryk’s Instagram account liked a picture depicting Cucurella deliberately ignoring the Ukraine winger who picked out another Chelsea player – but Potter has since dismissed claims of rioting.
“There’s no such thing as a bad thing,” Potter said. “If anything, it’s just friends trying to get to know each other, it’s a common issue about when to graduate.
“West Ham make it difficult for the wide men to get up. No problem, just understanding it is a challenge, which is very easy when you understand the context.”
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