Graham Potter receives most important seal of approval after Chelsea head coach appointment

The Chelsea squad are getting to grips with working with Graham Potter who was confirmed as Thomas Tuchel’s successor to become the new head coach.

A decision which came as a surprise to the players earlier this month, the morning after their 1-0 defeat to DInamo Zagreb in the Champions League, Potter was quickly appointed to take the lead under the new ownership at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have already played their first game under Potter’s tutelage, drawing 1-1 in Europe to FC Salzburg last Wednesday.

The 47-year-old will have to wait until 1 October for his second game, his first Premier League fixture, in charge of the Blues as a result of two postponements - against Fulham and Liverpool - and the international break. 

They played Brighton in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the Amex Stadium on Saturday which saw minutes be given to those who didn’t start against Salzburg. Chelsea ran out 2-1 winners thanks to a brace from new arrival Carney Chukwuemeka down on the south coast. 

Work has continued to be done at their Cobham training base to ingrain Potter’s methods and style of play into the players ahead of 13 matches before the World Cup break in mid-November. 

Many players have already praised Potter for his positiveness since he arrived and it appears as though the whole squad are enjoying working with the Englishman.

As reported by Nick Purewal, they have been encouraged by the speed of the new owners to rebuild the club’s off-field structure, and are also enjoying working under Potter.

Several of the players have already delivered their verdict publicly of Potter, including the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. 

Azpilicueta said: “The manager has made very clear what he wanted from the players individually and as a team and we have to keep working.”

Jorginho added: "He's a humble coach, but with a really good way to work. He has this challenge, I believe he will do very well because he has good ideas, group of players who are ready to try to do the best we can and listen to what he asks. It's a good combination."

Aubameyang concluded: “I think he is a person who is really positive and with a great character. “We will try to learn with him. We want to win as soon as possible. No, (it won’t take long to adapt). I think his idea is very clear so I think it is going to be easy.”

Potter has also been extremely complimentary of his new squad in the early days, hailing their honesty and application. 

He said: "We are at the start of a process together as staff and players.

"I can only comment on the response we had and I am looking forward to working and make this team competitive and one supporters are proud of."