Graham Potter can’t wait to get stuck back into Premier League action when West Ham United visit newly-promoted Sunderland on Saturday afternoon.
After a lengthy summer break, that has involved a training camp in Germany, a Premier League Summer Series tour of the USA and plenty of hard work at Rush Green, the Hammers are set to begin their quest for top-flight success at the Stadium of Light, backed by 3,000 members of the Claret and Blue faithful.
Up to four players could make their debuts for West Ham in the North-East, with El Hadji Malick Diouf, Kyle Walker-Peters, Callum Wilson and Mads Hermansen having come through the door so far, while exciting Academy of Football graduates such as Freddie Potts and Ollie Scarles will be pushing for gametime.
It’s been a busy few weeks and months for Sunderland as well, with Head Coach Régis Le Bris having spent well over £100 million on eight new first-team squad members to help aid their push for survival.
The Mackems ended their eight-year absence from the Premier League by memorably defeating Sheffield United in the EFL Championship Play-Off final in May, and their fans will undoubtedly work up an incredible atmosphere this weekend, as they mark their hotly-anticipated return to the big time.
With a special occasion in store, Irons boss Potter sat down with members of the press to reflect on a productive pre-season, while also looking ahead to what he hopes he and his team can achieve in the upcoming campaign…
Excited for the new season
It’s great to be back. It’s been a positive pre-season for us, but as much as you can talk about positive pre-seasons, you can’t beat the first day, and the first game.
It’s a brilliant game for us in what I’m sure is going to be a fantastic atmosphere. It’s going to be a big test, but we’re ready and we’re looking forward to it.
I’m excited about the whole season ahead. I’ve learnt a lot since I’ve been here and I certainly understand the Club more than I did, being a few months in. We’re just going to do our best to be as successful as we can.
Always looking to improve
We’re happy with the transfer business we’ve done so far, and in terms of the group I think we’re in a really good place. We’ve got a nice mix of youth and experience, and we have a lot of good characters.
Malik (El Hadji Malick Diouf) and Mads [Hermansen] are young players with bright futures ahead. Kyle [Walker-Peters] brings real experience and quality, and Callum [Wilson] brings invaluable know-how. All four have great personalities, and have integrated really well into the group.
We’ve lost some players, and it isn’t necessarily a case of directly replacing anyone, because everyone’s unique. The trick is to be able to carry on improving. It’s not a case of just signing anybody - we need to make sure we bring in the right people, to help the team improve.
We have to think about what’s right for us as a team going forward, and how best we get the most out of the players we have here. It’s about how the team functions in all areas of the pitch, and about how people can develop and grow into different roles.
I’ve been delighted with how everyone has approached pre-season, and how connected everyone has been. Now, we’re focusing on Saturday’s game, and we’re all looking forward to getting out there.
Wilson making an impression
Callum brings a level of experience, know-how and quality that I don’t think is easy to find.
He’s a proven Premier League striker with a fantastic mentality and character. He’s come from a good environment, and he can really help our young players while providing good competition in the group.
We have to help him enjoy his football, to be available, to be on the pitch and fight for his position, which we can do and we’re confident about.
And then we have a top player. We feel that he’s got the attributes to help the team in terms of scoring goals, but to also help the team function in a good way.
Academy talent
I think what you have to understand is that no club is a development club - we’re here to win and to be competitive, so we have to pick the team that gives us the best chance of winning.
The Academy is an incredibly important part of our Club, and we want to try and structure our squad so that opportunities can come up if the players are ready to take them.
We have to make sure we make the right decisions, and that we’re strategically aligned together. It’s about using the resources we have as best as possible to get the best possible results.
Working in the transfer window
We have the same challenges as pretty much every other team in terms of having to balance PSR with trying to improve the team.
The team’s been invested in over a period of time, and we’ve got a good group who we’re excited to be working with. But, we’ll keep working until the end of the window.
Plenty of potential
I think the potential of this Club is huge. The ambition should be huge, because it’s a massive Club. We’ve got a great fanbase, history and tradition - everything a demanding, big Club has.
Our challenge is to use the resources we have and to be aligned and together, to be able to put a team out on the pitch that our supporters can recognise and be proud of. That’s what’s really exciting when you’re about to head into a new season, as we are now.
We just need to not think too far ahead. It’s about the next game, the next training session, doing the best we can and always looking to get better. Really, if we can get everyone aligned, anything can happen.
I think that if everything is pulling in the same direction, you make steady improvements and then you can overachieve and do special things. At the same time, you have to remain humble and keep working hard.
Stopping Sunderland
I did watch it (the Sunderland ‘Til I Die documentary on Netflix), a few years ago. I know first-hand how difficult it is when you get relegated from the Premier League, from my time at Swansea, and all about the challenges clubs face if things don’t go well and expectations aren’t met.
But now, Sunderland are back in the Premier League, and I’m sure they’ll bring plenty of excitement and positivity to the game on Saturday.
They’ve brought in a number of good players. He (Granit Xhaka) is a top player for sure, who brings great experience, great quality and great leadership. I’m sure all of that will really help their team.
We have to focus on ourselves though, and on how we can play and get what we need out of the game. We need to make sure we’re ready, and I’m confident we will be.
