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Chelsea coach Graham Potter has slammed critics who claim he does not get angry enough.
Chelsea manager Graham Potter has come under intense criticism in recent weeks over the club's performances both on the pitch and off it.
The Londoners have been hit out over their extravagant spending spree in January having pulled off the biggest deal in English football history with the acquisition of Argentina World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez.
In what was the biggest saga of the winter transfer window, Enzo arrived Stamford Bridge this month after the Blues managed to agree a £107 million British-record fee for the 21-year-old Albiceleste star.
The Blues have also been criticized for their performances on the pitch having picked up just three wins in 13 games under manager Graham Potter.
'I get Angry'- Potter responds to criticism over temperament claims
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The former Brighton boss was recently hit out at on social media following Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with West Ham last weekend.
The Blues players clamoured for penalty late in the game, after Tomas Soucek went down in the box and apparently handled the ball from a Conor Gallagher shot.
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The 47-year-old refused to publicly condemn referee Craig Pawson, who refused to point to the spot despite what appeared to be a blatant handball by Soucek, during his post-match presser.
Former Premier League stars Joe Cole formerly of Chelsea, Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United) and Danny Murphy (Brighton) all questioned Potter’s calm reaction to Chelsea's failure to win a penalty against West Ham on Saturday, claiming the Blues boss wasn't angry enough.
However, the Blues manager has now fired back over claims about his temperament.
'If you think that you can start a coaching career in the ninth tier of English football.
'In the Northern Counties Division One and get to this point now as the Chelsea coach in the Champions League without getting angry or being nice then I suggest you don't know anything about anything.’ Potter said on Monday night via Sky Sports ahead of their Champions League first-leg clash against Borussia Dortmund.
He continued: 'I want to be careful not to get into discussion through the media. Of course I get angry, I am a human being.
“ It's just that I choose to conduct myself the way I think is the right way to conduct myself on the side.
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“The same media are talking about me being angry and then running stories about problems with referees at grassroots football and they don't see the connection. “
'That's not to say we don't all lose our temper because we do. It's an emotional thing but also I have a responsibility to myself, to Chelsea and to the game to act in the way I think is the right way for me, not for anyone else but for me.'
This was not the first time Potter's cool demeanour has been called into question since his arrival at Chelsea in the season.
The 47-year-old has been known to be extremely composed and calm in the face of his team’s struggles on the pitch, although this has never been quite admired by Blues fans on social media, with some clamouring for his sack less than seven months into the Blues’ hot seat.
Potter dismisses claims of rift between Mykhailo Mudryk and Marc Cucurella
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Chelsea’s £88million Ukranian signing Mykhaylo Mudryk appeared to endorse a social media post suggesting Marc Cucurella was unwilling to pass to him during the match against West Ham on Saturday.
However, Potter has now dismissed any suggestions of a squabble between the duo.
'There's no problem in terms of anything sinister at all. If anything it's just team-mates understanding each other. It's quite a common problem, I would say – when to pass and at what point and what time.' he said in the presser ahead of their Champions League tie against Dortmund.
Chelsea gear up to face Borussia Dortmund at the Signal Iduna on Wednesday night, February 15 in the first-leg of the Champions League round of 16 stage.
Pulse Sports Nigeria is sure to provide you with live updates from all the Champions League action ahead of the 9:00 pm WAT kick-off.
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