Former Chelsea manager Potter weighs in on Postecoglou’s ‘shell-shocked’ interview after Brighton’s win over Spurs
GRAHAM POTTER has given his verdict on Ange Postecoglou’s “shell shocked” interview.
The Tottenham boss was left downbeat after his side threw away a 2-0 half-time lead to lose at Brighton.
It is a third Prem defeat of the season for Spurs in just seven matches, having been beaten by Newcastle and rivals Arsenal.
Postecoglou described the Brighton result as his worst defeat in charge of Tottenham, and he barely took his eyes off the floor in his post-match interview.
His gloomy demeanour led Joe Hart to question Potter about Postecoglou needing good support around him, hinting managers can sometimes allow their emotions to get the better of them.
Potter said on Match of the Day 2: “I think it comes with experience. Always we are trying to find the right words.
“Getting angry’s easy, getting upset is easy. As leaders as coaches you can’t throw your team under the bus, you can’t throw players under the bus, you want to support them.
“At the same time you need to show you are taking responsibility, that people are accountable to supporters.
“So it’s a fine line between when you’re winning you’re this emotionally intelligent calm person, and when you’re losing you need to be more angry.”
Potter’s last comment triggered laughter from his colleagues as he was famously lamented at Chelsea for being too nice.
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He often refused to slam referees during his stint in the Prem in charge of Chelsea and Brighton, but asserted that did not mean he never got angry.
Potter said previously: “Of course I get angry, I’m a human being, it’s just I choose to conduct myself in the way I think is the right way to conduct myself on the sideline.
“I think the same media are talking about me being more angry but then running stories about problems with referees at grassroots level.
“They don’t see the connection. That’s not to say we don’t all lose our temper; we do because it’s an emotional thing.
“I have a responsibility to myself, to Chelsea, to the game, and to act in a way that is the right thing for me.”
Fans were taken aback by Postecoglou’s interview with one saying: “I don’t think I have ever seen a manager Shell shocked like this with what he saw from his own team.”
Another added: “Defeated man.”