Graham Potter has been interviewed by the Chelsea app ahead of the game against Manchester United today, and the coach was asked about his impressive tactical flexibility.
The coach was quick to point out that he didn’t want change for change’s sake. He was only interested in making decisions that were beneficial for the team, and that suited them in each game.
Using Thiago Silva as an example, he also noted that he had a squad full of world class players who are ready to switch system between games and in games – while also agreeing that having a strong team put him in a position to impose his favoured style, more than when he was a reactive coach lower down the table and down the divisions.
“My career has meant I have had to use resources as well as I can,” the Chelsea coach explained to his club’s official sources.
“We didn’t have the power to just go 4-3-3 all the time! They are top players so their game insight is at a really high level, and some of them have been playing the game a long time. Thiago Silva for example can play in the middle of a three or in a back four. He is the captain of Brazil – he can play football! You just have to make sure everyone is on board and everyone understands and again we don’t change for change’s sake, it is not part of my identity that I want to deliver here. What we have got to do is try to win football matches!”
His philosophy will be put to the test later today when we face Man U. Will he go proactive or reactive against Erik ten Hag’s side?
