Cristoph Groß is one of the big success stories of Graham Potter’s time at Brighton.
He had done well for them before Potter came in, but the way that the now Chelsea coach used him got the best out of him, and the way that he improved the team gave Groß a much better platform to play from.
The German has his flaws, and many would have have he’s just too slow to play in the hectic Premier League, especially for a team lower down the league, but Potter used all his managerial ability to prove them wrong.
Even Groß is surprised that Potter has made such a big step up however, and he admits it won’t be easy for his old boss.
“It was a surprise for us. It all happened very quickly,” he told Sport 1.
“Within one or two days Graham was no longer our coach. We were already aware that the day would come at some point, and he would accept an offer from an absolute top club.
“It certainly won’t be easy. But I have a lot of confidence in Graham. He is a top coach who is very good at tactics and interpersonal skills.
“But of course, it’s a whole new level at Chelsea. Only the bare results count. People get restless more quickly.
“I’m curious to see how Graham deals with all the stars. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for him in his new job.”
Despite his compliments about Potter’s tactical nous and man management, Groß is pretty open about the surprise in the Brighton squad.
Still, that shouldn’t be seen as a bad things. Some of the best managerial appointments of all time came far more out of left field than Potter has, and if he truly has the backing of the board and enough leeway to make the project his own, there’s no telling how far it could go.
We wonder who Potter’s Groß figure will be at Chelsea?
