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Graham Potter insists that if Pep Guardiola still has something to prove as manager, then so does he after the former Chelsea boss was unveiled as the new West Ham head coach.
The 49-year-old hailed being named Hammers manager as like ‘Christmas for adults’ as he spoke to the media for the first time this morning.
Potter signed a two-and-a-half-year deal as Julen Lopetegui’s replacement following the Spaniard’s sacking and takes his first training this afternoon.
He returns to management nearly two years after a disastrous spell at Chelsea that saw him sacked just seven months into his reign at Stamford Bridge.
‘When I listen to Pep Guardiola, he says he’s got something to prove,’ said Potter. ‘If he’s got something to prove, then we all have. That’s the reality.
‘Professional sport is you’ve always got something to prove every day. It strives you forward. I’m comfortable in my own skin, I’m comfortable with who I am and what I’ve done. Clearly no one’s perfect.
Graham Potter says he has a lot to prove as a manager – especially if Pep Guardiola does!
The Englishman said he was so excited getting the deal done that it was ‘like Christmas for adults’
Even Guardiola, for all his success, has faced questions about his management this season
‘Life is about taking the successes and accepting the setbacks and accepting the defeats and accepting the mistakes or whatever you want to call it and dealing with it and making you stronger. That’s part of who we are.
‘You guys as journalists will be the same. You won’t write everything brilliantly and sometimes maybe a piece won’t be so good and you reflect on that and go, okay, maybe I can do something better. It’s just how it is.
‘But I think I’m a better person now for the experience, a better coach for the experience and well rested.
‘Twelve years of non-stop being a football coach across three different countries, climbing from the fourth tier to the last eight of the Champions League. It doesn’t come for free, so the breaks have done me good. It gives me the chance to reflect.’
Potter admitted he didn’t get much sleep last night as negotiations were concluded over his deal that was announced at 8am on Thursday.
‘It’s a proud day to be manager of this amazing club. It’s a big tradition, big history, big expectation, big challenge. It’s like Christmas for the adults. I didn’t get the best of sleeps through excitement. I’m really looking forward to meeting players and supporters.
‘It was important that I chose the right option for me at the right time. And as soon as I spoke to this club it just felt right for me.’