Potter 'ready' for return after Chelsea 'anger'

Chelsea had dropped to 11th in the Premier League under Graham Potter

Former Chelsea manager Graham Potter says club football is more "rewarding" than international management as he considers his next job, 17 months on from the "frustration, anger and maybe bitterness" which followed his Stamford Bridge sacking.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Potter said he has "felt ready to return for a little while" after he was dismissed following less than seven months in charge of Chelsea amid a "perfect storm" in April 2023.

He was the Blues' first managerial appointment following Todd Boehly's takeover and oversaw a record £323m outlay in the 2023 January transfer window.

"It still has to be the right thing, but I’m excited for it. I’m excited to hear what the opportunities are and I’ll take each one and judge it on its merits," Potter said.

"International management is a different rhythm and there are pluses for that. It’s more intense when it’s on, but you’ve got a bit more breathing space in between.

"It’s nothing that I’ve ruled out, but at the same time I do like the day-to-day bit of working with the players and being in at the club and trying to build and make a difference."

Chelsea paid Brighton in excess of £21m in compensation to appoint Potter and his staff in September 2022, handing the former Ostersunds FK and Swansea City boss a five-year-deal.

He was sacked before the conclusion of the 2022-23 season following an 11th defeat in 31 games since replacing Thomas Tuchel, but believes he is a "better coach" for the experience.

"You have to try not to beat yourself up, but you can’t just blame everything on somebody else. It’s not nice because of the high-profile nature of it. There’s a humiliation that it doesn’t go well," Potter said.

"I don’t have any regrets over doing it, but, at the same time, when anybody loses their job, there’s an element of frustration, anger and maybe bitterness at some point."

In his three-year spell on the south coast, Potter took Brighton to 15th, 16th and ninth-place Premier League finishes and received widespread praise for his style of attacking football.

Brighton appointed Fabian Hurzeler as manager in June and Potter said "it wasn’t the right time" for a return and "the next step is to do something else".