Graham Potter details why he disappeared after Chelsea sacking during Man Utd links

Former Chelsea head coach Graham Potter made a rare TV appearance and explained why he has not taken up a new job and stayed out of the limelight since his Stamford Bridge sacking.

Potter has been out of work for the past 17 months, despite excelling at Brighton and Swansea before his 31-match stint in west London came to an unceremonious end.

And while opening up on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football alongside Jamie Carragher and host David Jones, Potter candidly detailed the pain that comes with losing your job as a Premier League coach.

“It has (been a deliberate decision to stay away from the limelight),” Potter said. “(I have) spent some time with the family, connect with them. It’s a 12-year journey which started in the fourth tier of Swedish football and ended in the last eight of the Champions League.

“It’s a journey that doesn’t come for free and it’s nice to be able to spend some time with them and see what the future brings.

“Of course it was disappointing, it’s never nice when you lose your job in any walk of life. But in the end you have to treat it as a learning experience, you have to treat it as an opportunity to grow and improve. I am grateful for the opportunity that I had, I am grateful for the experience, it was tough and challenging but there were some highlights as well.

“Like I said I think it’s about putting it into perspective, not trying to blame yourself completely but not trying to blame everybody else either. It’s about balance and reflecting and coming back stronger.”

Potter has continued to be among those linked with the Manchester United job, with Erik ten Hag under considerable pressure following a 3-0 defeat at home to Tottenham to leave the Red Devils in the bottom half of the table.

He admitted to being open to working at Old Trafford and his old colleague Dan Ashworth again, but played down the suggestion that he held talks with INEOS amid a summer review concerning Ten Hag.

When asked if he would prefer to return to club management or try his hand at replacing Gareth Southgate at England, Potter replied: “I am open to anything and everything.

“I am the only coach in world football to be linked with Stoke City and Napoli in the same week! For the respect of everybody, it’s best I keep it private.”