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Potter on squad morale, PSR and Chelsea

Potter on squad morale, PSR and Chelsea

BBC News7 hours ago
West Ham boss Graham Potter has been speaking to the media before Friday's Premier League game against Chelsea at London Stadium (kick-off 20:00 BST).Here are the key lines from his news conference:On team news: "Everybody is fine, George Earthy trained with the group today. We had Luis Guilherme because of his shoulder before the game, so he is still missing. But apart from that, everyone is OK." Potter reiterated that Edson Alvarez's reported move to Fenerbahce is not yet confirmed, but the move could be on the cards simply because of the game time he is looking for and the "needs of the team". On the opening weekend loss: "The game wasn't a 3-0 game in my opinion. I think we do a lot right up until the first goal, we have calmed the situation down, we were in control of the game and they scored a goal out of pretty much nothing and the environment makes it really challenging. We don't react as well as we would have liked in that situation." Potter also insisted that the club has been handicapped due to PSR and while options are constantly being considered, he stated they "have to get more out of the squad and we will look to improve". On the squad's morale: "We know we have to do more in terms of results and improve our performance. The players were gutted after the game, and there was optimism and positivity, and now it is up to us to react." Potter said he has always understood this is "a work in progress", stressing the need to "balance expectations with reality" while continuing to work hard and push forward.The Hammers boss expressed confidence in the team and the players, insisting there is still much more to come. However, he admitted that results ultimately shape the narrative, and a setback like that inevitably brings negativity and criticism.On facing Chelsea: "It'll take a huge effort, a fantastic team performance, always a little bit of luck, but you are playing against a top team in a really good moment, so we have to perform well as a team with a balance between attack and defence, and we have to give everything." Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
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