Graham Potter Responds To Manchester United Links And Gives Insight To Working With Dan Ashworth

Graham Potter provided analysis on Manchester United’s 3-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, and addressed the speculation on his future as a manager, on last night’s Monday Night Football.

While Potter was there to cover Bournemouth’s 3-1 win over Southampton, much of the focus shifted to his job search and his previous work with United’s new sporting director, Dan Ashworth, at Brighton.

Despite his disappointing spell at Chelsea, rumours over the summer suggested that United’s leadership were considering Potter as a potential Erik Ten Hag replacement, when they were still exploring other managerial options.

When asked about the difficulty of the United job and his links to it, Potter told Sky Sports: “I don’t think anything is impossible but jobs are difficult. That’s the reality of life in the Premier League. If you’re a big club like Manchester United and you’re not in the top six, then there’s always going to be scrutiny.

“Sometimes you have to look beyond the results and look at the performances.

“They’ve missed a lot of chances and sometimes teams go through that where you don’t start reflecting your xG (expected goals), and then a bad day comes along and the clouds come over pretty quickly–that’s what they’re facing.

“A lot of what I’ve read in the media is untrue and false. I take what the media says with a pinch of salt. I’ve had lots of conversations with lots of people, and for the respect of everybody, it’s best I keep it private.”

This sparked a discussion between Potter and Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher, as Potter offered more insight to managing in the Premier League.

He continued: “After a match, emotions run high because football is driven by emotions and feelings. Fans are upset, they want answers, they want someone to blame, and sometimes that’s the manager. We make mistakes, we’re not perfect.

“But that’s part of the job, it’s what you sign up for, and I’m sure Erik would say the same. It’s what he expects at Manchester United. If you don’t win, or you don’t play well, or you lose, people will criticise.

“Whoever lost that game would have been under pressure. Not long ago, people were criticising Ange, saying there were no tactics or no plan B, and suddenly he’s won four in a row and everything’s great.

“You have to keep pushing for results, work with your players, stick to your plans, and move the club forward as best you can.”