Graham Potter has been linked with the Manchester United job as pressure rises on Erik ten Hag, but the ex-Chelsea manager thinks most of the conjecture has been well off the mark.
Graham Potter has said that allegations tying him to the Manchester United job are “untrue and false”.
The 49-year-old has been out of work since Chelsea fired him in April 2023, and he was connected with the Old Trafford post when candidates for Erik ten Hag were explored. The INEOS management examined their alternatives early in the summer, while Potter was still unemployed.
His availability placed him in contention until the Manchester club chose to continue with Ten Hag, who has recently signed a new contract but is under pressure once more. Potter, who has also been linked to the England post, agrees that few of the stories about his next employment have been accurate.
He told Sky Sports: “I believe that most of what I’ve read in the media is inaccurate and misleading. I believe I am the first coach in global football to have been connected with both Stoke City and Napoli in the same week! So I take anything the media says with a grain of salt. I’ve had a number of talks with a variety of folks, and I believe it’s best that I keep things secret for everyone’s sake.”
Potter’s reputation developed while he was at Brighton, where he oversaw many victories over the Red Devils, one of which came in Ten Hag’s first game in command. He struggled at Chelsea, failing to endure a season before being let go.
He’s subsequently watched as Manchester United struggle to reclaim their former glory. Ten Hag is in his third season, but his team has shown little improvement, with their most recent low point coming in a 3-0 loss to Tottenham on Sunday.
Many managers have tried and failed to make United the success story they once were. Some great names have come and gone since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure, but Potter believes that despite the hurdles, the task is not insurmountable.”I don’t think anything is impossible but obviously jobs are difficult, that’s just the reality of life in the Premier League,” remarked the former Arsenal player. “If you’re a major club like Manchester United and you’re not in the top six, you’ll always face scrutiny. Sometimes you have to go past the outcomes and performances; they’ve missed a lot of opportunities, and they may not have received as many points as they believe they should have.
Ten Hag’s future is squarely under the focus following Sunday’s setback, with Potter conceding that the immediate aftermath of a defeat may put managers under pressure.
He stated: “After a game, everyone gets emotional, of course, because football is about emotions and sentiments. Fans are wounded, they want answers, and they want to blame someone. Sometimes it’s the management, and we make mistakes and aren’t flawless.”
