Potter reflects on Chelsea disaster: 'It didn't work out but I have no regrets'

Graham Potter says he has no regrets about leaving Brighton for Chelsea, despite being sacked after just seven months in charge and enduring a hostile reception from his former supporters at the Amex Stadium.

Potter, who was appointed Sweden head coach in 2025, made the remarks ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League meeting with Brighton at Stamford Bridge. The fixture brings together the two clubs that defined the most turbulent chapter of his managerial career in England.

His three years at Brighton were a clear success. He guided the Seagulls to a ninth-place finish in the 2021/22 season — then the club’s highest-ever Premier League placing — before Chelsea, under new owner Todd Boehly, came calling in the autumn of 2022.

The move quickly unravelled. One of the lowest points arrived in October 2022 when Brighton, now managed by Roberto De Zerbi, beat Chelsea 4-1 at the Amex. Potter was booed throughout by the home support, though he refused to apologise. “I have nothing to say sorry for,” he said. “I think I did a good job at the club and left it in a good place, but people are entitled to their opinions.”

He was eventually dismissed following an 11th defeat in 31 games, with Chelsea sitting 11th in the table and 12 points adrift of the top four. A spell at West Ham proved equally brief before the Sweden appointment.

Reflecting on the Chelsea experience in an interview with the Telegraph, Potter was measured rather than bitter. “The first six months were tough because I worked really, really hard to get that type of opportunity,” he said. “I don’t think it was the only opportunity I was going to get because I left Brighton in a really, really good place. So it was about choosing the right opportunity. And I didn’t choose the wrong one — it just didn’t work out.”

He acknowledged the emotional toll of losing the job. “I don’t have any regrets over doing it, but at the same time, when anybody loses their job, there’s an element of frustration, anger and maybe bitterness at some point.”

Since taking charge of Sweden, Potter has shown signs of rebuilding his reputation. At the most recent World Cup, he steered the team through a difficult group stage before a 3-0 defeat to France ended their run in the round of 32.