City the priority, but Potter is thinking for future

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Head coach discusses how Albion can achieve their ambition of becoming a top-ten Premier League club.

Bruce Talbot

2020-07-11T06:00:00Z

Albion head coach Graham Potter.

Graham Potter’s sole focus is on trying to upset Manchester City at the Amex tonight.

But the head coach says he has also given some thought to how the club can achieve its aim of establishing itself as a top ten club in the Premier League.

Asked about that ambition, Potter said: “I think it's a big jump but it's also an achievable jump.

“What we have to do is have a vision of how we want to play. We need to align everything towards that vision.”

A win over second-placed City tonight would all but guarantee a fourth season in the Premier League. Once that’s achieved, it’s onto the next step.

“Clearly for the last four years we have been working towards something else and we are in a bit of a transition period,” said Potter.

“And sometimes during a transition period when the competition is as severe as it is in the Premier League, just staying where you are and improving is really challenging.

“As I have said before it can be like fixing the plane while it’s in the air. But if you get everything aligned towards what you’re trying to do and a confidence in it you can achieve a lot.

"We have seen this season with clubs who have that confidence and identity can over-achieve. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

Potter’s immediate concern is trying to beat a Manchester City side who could still finish more than 20 points behind champions Liverpool despite producing some outstanding football this season.

“Their performances are consistently at a really high level,” said Potter.

“They probably haven’t got the results that they wanted which is part of football sometimes but they are still in the FA Cup and Champions League. They are a fantastic side which is well coached with wonderful players. They are a complete team.

“Their performance level isn’t so far off what it was last year but that’s the beauty of football, you can play well and lose. That’s why we love it so much and why it drives us insane as well!”