Graham Potter insists he isn't experimenting at Chelsea but is prepared to look like an idiot in order to help the club be successful long-term.
The 47-year-old has now been at Stamford Bridge for two months since arriving from Brighton & Hove Albion. It's been a fairly successful start for Potter, losing just one of his opening nine games in charge.
His first defeat came last weekend against his former side, Brighton, in a 4-1 thumping down on the south coast.
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But Potter has guided Chelsea into the Champions League knockout stages as Group E winners, while having his side place sixth in the Premier League currently.
The Chelsea head coach has tinkered with the system, playing both a three and four-man defence, as well as varying lineups with several different combinations in defence, midfield and attack.
It's sometimes been to the benefit of Chelsea, but on occasions the Blues have been exposed. Potter is still learning as he goes, working out what fits and suits the squad best.
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They face the league leaders on Sunday, Arsenal, in their final home game before the World Cup break. It will offer Potter, arguably, his toughest test yet in charge of Chelsea.
Chelsea will need to be at their best to ensure Arsenal don't make it three away wins in a row against the Blues, and that will be down to Potter and his team selection.
They have a long way to go to bridge the gap to the likes of Manchester City and competing for the league title, but the new owners have set out a long-term plan to reach their goals.
Potter has been chosen to lead the squad, while appointments are starting to be made in the recruitment area to aid the Potter on the pitch as he tried to get the best out of what he has at his disposal.
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But the Blues boss has warned that it will take time and patience is required, with the Englishman honestly admitting he will look like an idiot sometimes, something he is prepared to do.
“I wouldn’t say I am experimenting,” insisted Potter, as quoted by the Evening Standard, during his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon at their Cobham training base. “I do have an idea of how I want us to play football.
“I think you have to remember, when you are trying to do something new, there will be a chance it goes wrong. You always have to be prepared for that.
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“That sounds a bit strange because you should come across as this all-knowing person with all the answers, but the reality of making progress and the reality of doing something different and new is... you have to be prepared to be an idiot.
“If it goes wrong or it fails, you are open to criticism. The flip side of that is that if you don’t do anything and you just do the same stuff then nothing changes.
“And it is that balance. You have to have the courage to do that and accept the consequences when it doesn’t go your way.”
Topics: Graham Potter, Chelsea, Todd Boehly, Football
Matthew Debono