Graham Potter's programme notes

A warm welcome to Marcelo Bielsa, his players and the officials of Leeds United for this afternoon’s match.

To say it's been a busy time, both on and off the pitch, since my last programme notes would be something of an understatement. Off the pitch we've seen the rise and very quick fall of the proposed European Super League, followed quickly by the announcement of this weekend’s social media blackout – which all of us at the club are very much behind.

On the pitch, however, is where our main focus has had to be. We still have work to do to ensure our Premier League status before the season concludes, and it's important that we now strive to pick up as many points as possible from these final five games.

Prior to last Saturday's disappointing defeat at Sheffield United, it had been a very good period for us, where we picked up valuable points against European-chasing Everton and Chelsea. Last time out at the Amex, I thought we were the team most likely to win, but Everton defended well when they needed to. We nullified their attacking threat but just lacked that bit of quality in the final third to get ourselves over the line. Overall, though, I was pleased with the performance and the intent we showed against a very good side.

We then faced a Chelsea side very much in the ascendancy under Thomas Tuchel but took the game to our opponents and were unlucky not to come away with all three points. We had a couple of good chances to score, while at the other end of the pitch, I was delighted to see us come away with a clean sheet against a top-class forward line.

Whenever we’ve faced the top sides, we’ve been in most of the games we’ve played and Stamford Bridge was another such occasion. We were brave with the ball when we had it, especially in the second half, and came off the pitch pleased with our evening’s work but still mindful that we have work to do.

It was, therefore, disappointing that we were unable to follow up that performance at Sheffield United last Saturday. I was pleased with the application and endeavour the players showed, but we didn’t quite reach the levels we have been producing in recent weeks. We enjoyed good spells of possession, certainly in the second half, but didn’t work their keeper as much as we could have done; and when we did he made some very good saves.

We also conceded a poor goal by our standards and it became more difficult as we faced a team set up to defend, which they did very well. I have said it all season, there are NO EASY GAMES in the Premier League, and the result at Sheffield United, who were already relegated, demonstrates that more than ever.

Today we face another of those challenges in Leeds United who, as we have all witnessed this season, play very much on the front foot. I have huge respect for Marcelo Bielsa, he is one of the game’s very top-level coaches and one many of us look up to. We did well to beat Leeds by a single goal back in January; we were excellent that afternoon, but we witnessed first-hand the high tempo played by our opponents. We will need to put in a similar hard-working performance this afternoon if we want the same result.

It would be remiss of me not to mention the proposed European Super League in my notes today, but our stance as a club, and mine as an individual, I believe reflect the widespread and almost unanimous opinion of all in the game. We believe in fair competition, where promotions, relegations and, in the Premier League, the opportunity to play in Europe, are fundamental to the game in this country. A closed cartel of clubs in a European Super League would have destroyed the integrity and the very fundamentals of what makes football the great game it is. It was heartening to see the football family united on this – and even more pleasing to see the proposals collapse so dramatically.

Finally, there is another huge issue within our game we need to tackle, as Patrick Bamford so eloquently and quite rightly highlighted the Monday before last when all the focus was on the proposed ESL. The ongoing racist, misogynistic, homophobic and xenophobic abuse of players, pundits, fans and anyone connected with the game simply must be stopped. Social media has become reflective of some of the darker corners of our society as a whole and can be a very toxic environment.

I know our players and the majority of supporters love the ability to engage with each other in the right way, on the platforms, and now the social media companies and Government must come up with a solution to try to stop this abuse and make these platforms a better reflection of what is positive within our society. And, if need be, with laws which allow greater punishments for those who continue with it. I am proud of this club and our players, who collectively have stood up to it and called it out, punishing those offenders, and that is something we will continue to do.

This weekend we are joining the rest of football in boycotting social media, from Friday through to midnight on Monday. This is a great way to highlight the issue, and we must continue to do that, until those measures are put in place.

Enjoy the game.