News

Potter: Everyone will continue to have an input

Albion boss on significance of his entire squad ahead of Manchester United’s visit.

By Alex Stedman • 29 June 2020

By Paul Hazlewood
Albion head coach Graham Potter.

Graham Potter has emphasised the importance of being able to call on all members of his squad for the remainder of the 2019/20 Premier League run-in. 

His side host Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United tomorrow night looking to build on their impressive four-point return from their two matches since the season resumed. 

Potter has used five subs in both games so far to take advantage of the temporary ruling which allows him to name nine players on the bench. 

He said, “It’s normal that every player wants to start the game, but if you look at the Arsenal win from our perspective the guys that finish the game are so important. 

“They have to be ready - whether that’s for three minutes or 30 minutes. We all saw the contribution Alexis Mac Allister had against Arsenal when he was on for a matter of minutes and had a big hand in the winning goal. 

“The players know the situation and have been really professional. Every player is ready to help the team and play for however long they are needed.”

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Potter's Man United press conference

Albion sit three places and six points above the bottom three with seven games to play, but Potter knows that the side’s survival is far from sealed especially as three of their next four games are against United, champions Liverpool and Manchester City.  

“We’re still fighting, we still have work to do and we need points to stay in the division,” he added. 

“This league is so tough because everyone has quality and good players so the margins can go with you or against you. 

“Regardless of what anyone else does we know we have to keep going. We don’t think about how many points we’ll need to be safe, so we have to focus on the next game which is against one of the most form teams of the competition in Manchester United.”

The boss fielded the club’s youngest ever Premier League starting eleven last Tuesday against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. 

The Seagulls battled to a 0-0 draw, but the boss was keen to highlight the selection was about suitability rather than sustainability. 

He added, “For the medium to long-term future of the club of course it’s encouraging [we played a young team] but we’re in a moment where the short term is the most important thing – we need to get results. 

“It’s not about thinking if the selection is the right one for the future, it’s about the fact that we felt it was the right side to get a result against Leicester. We will pick the team that can achieve our short-term aims.”