'Out the door' – Adam Lallana makes Graham Potter admission after 'cut-throat' Chelsea move
Potter enjoyed three Premier League points as Chelsea’s new manager last Saturday thanks a narrow 2-1 away victory at Crystal Palace and now seeks his first win in the Champions League as they take on AC Milan at Stamford Bridge tonight.
Lallana, 34, worked with Potter for more than two seasons at Brighton and believes his old boss is ready for the challenges at the Bridge.
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Hide AdPotter agreed a lucrative five-year contract with Chelsea after his impressive spell as Brighton head coach. He transformed Albion’s style of play and turned them from relegation strugglers to a team capable of challenging for Europe.
Potter’s style left a lasting impression on Lallana who has previously played under the likes of Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino.
Lallana, speaking on BBC Radio 5Live's Football Daily and reported via SussexLive, said, “He would have walked into that squad and knew straight away he has an unbelievable array of players to choose from, possibly too many.
"But he will be calm, he will be patient, he won't be panicking at all. Having said that, they only have one point in the [Champions League] group so far, so there is a bit of pressure on from that perspective.
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Hide Ad"But having known Graham [Potter] and knowing the way he works, he will be very methodical in his thinking, very calm in how he speaks to the group and getting his messages across. And I fully expect him to do a great job there, as long as he is given the time.
"You know how much pressure these managers are under for instant results, but good things in life do take time and I hope he is given that time. I have no doubt that with the group of players he has there and the talent, he will get them firing.
"He is brilliant. To give you an example, he is completely different to Jurgen [Klopp] for example, but that is not to say one is right and one is wrong. There are different ways to manage football players and manage egos, and they are both very good at it.
"Graham is more in a methodical, calm way and he wants your opinion more as a player, and he will speak to you and you will have back and forths. Before working with Graham, I wasn't used to that, but working with him over the last two or three years I've realised that of course you can work like that and he got success from that. If you don't buy into it, you will find yourself out of the door.
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Hide Ad"He will give everyone a chance, everyone will have a chance to impress, to play well and be part of his culture and his values that he wants and it is an unbelievable environment to work under, if you are ever part of Graham's backroom staff or team.
"I just hope he is given the time, because it is a cut-throat business at times because of the pressure and Chelsea Football Club has been renowned for the demands of winning silverware. But I think it is a challenge he is up for, he is ready for and I will just be sitting back and watching it unfold."