‘Of course I get angry, I am a human being’: Graham Potter shuts down criticism of his temperament

Chelsea manager Graham Potter last night dismissed criticism of his temperament ahead of the Champions League showdown against Borussia Dortmund. 

Joe Cole, Rio Ferdinand and Danny Murphy all questioned Potter’s calm reaction to Chelsea’s failure to win a penalty against West Ham on Saturday, claiming the Blues boss wasn’t angry enough. 

The 47-year-old refused to publicly condemn referee Craig Pawson, who refused to point to the spot despite what appeared to be a blatant handball by Tomas Soucek, during his post-match duties. 

It was not the first time Potter’s cool exterior has been called in to question since his arrival at Chelsea earlier this season. 

And the former Brighton boss fired a curt response to assertions that he is too placid, saying: ‘If you think that you can start a coaching career in the ninth tier of English football. 

Chelsea manager Graham Potter has dismissed criticism that he does not get angry enough

Replays clearly showed that Conor Gallagher’s strike had hit Tomas Soucek’s hand late on at the London Stadium 

‘In the Northern Counties Division One and get to this point now as the Chelsea coach in the Champions League without getting angry or being nice then I suggest you don’t know anything about anything. 

‘I want to be careful not to get into discussion through the media. Of course I get angry, I am a human being. It’s just that I choose to conduct myself the way I think is the right way to conduct myself on the side. The same media are talking about me being angry and then running stories about problems with referees at grassroots football and they don’t see the connection. 

‘That’s not to say we don’t all lose our temper because we do. It’s an emotional thing but also I have a responsibility to myself, to Chelsea and to the game to act in the way I think is the right way for me, not for anyone else but for me.’ 

Asked about his manager’s reaction to the incident at the London Stadium, captain Cesar Azpilicueta added: ‘I was angry. I can speak about myself when I was watching the iPad on the bench. It was a bad decision, to be fair, that we were not awarded a penalty. That is the truth. 

‘But I’ve been with different managers who have expressed themselves in a different way.’ 

Potter also dismissed suggestions of a rift between £88million signing Mykhailo Mudryk and Marc Cucurella. 

Ukrainian attacker Mudryk appeared to endorse a social media post suggesting Cucurella was reluctant to pass to him during the game against West Ham, while there is also a social media video in circulation in which Mudryk appears to suggest Chelsea need a new left-back. 

Potter also dismissed suggestions of a rift between £88million signing Mykhailo Mudryk and Marc Cucurella

But Potter said: ‘There’s no problem in terms of anything sinister at all. If anything it’s just team-mates understanding each other. It’s quite a common problem, I would say – when to pass and at what point and what time.’ 

Meanwhile, Chelsea retain an interest in Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham – despite spending £600million on strengthening the squad. 

The England international has been a long-term target for the Blues, but their British record capture of Enzo Fernandez last month has softened their need for a central midfielder. 

But Chelsea, who are also interested in Declan Rice, still want to sign Bellingham this summer.