Interviews

Potter: Albion squad strongest I've known

Head coach happy with how his group are developing.

By Charlie Hanson • 28 July 2022

By Paul Hazlewood
Graham Potter guided Albion to their best ever finish in the top-tier last season, finishing ninth.

Graham Potter is confident his squad is in the strongest position it’s been in since he arrived at the club in 2019.

A combination of time together and players being injury free means that everyone is feeling ambitious ahead of the new campaign.

“We're stronger now because we've been together for another year," Potter said. "People make a lot about transfers, with the media and the clock ticking down to the transfer deadline day. So everyone seems to think that it's about what you get and the external solution. But ultimately, it's about how you develop your team and the club. We're quite calm and happy with what we've done.

By Paul Hazlewood
Danny Welbeck had an interrupted campaign last season due to injury.

“There's a lot of players that can play a few more minutes than they played last year, the likes of [Enock] Mwepu, [Moises] Caicedo, even [Alexis] Mac Allister can. Danny Welbeck didn't play that much last year, so there's guys that have taken steps.

“Last year we went periods without Lewis Dunk and Adam Webster, so the squad’s now as strong as it's been in my time here. There's a combination of really good, experienced players and some exciting ambitious young ones - and ambitious older ones as well!

“We're quite happy with everything. Of course the window’s open and you have to keep looking. But my job fundamentally as a head coach is to improve the guys that are here.”

The likes of Mwepu and Mac Allister will be vying to fill the position vacated by Yves Bissouma in midfield.

By Paul Hazlewood
Enock Mwepu made 18 league appearances last season.

"Midfield is a strong area for us. Hopefully the players we have can take the space that Yves has left. We know the quality of Yves and we wish him well with his new chapter in his life and his career, but that's football - life goes on.

“We've also got some good young players and a nice mix of people in that area. So we're looking forward to seeing how that manifests itself.”