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Graham Potter's Chelsea pre-match press conference: Transfers, Sunderland result and improvements needed

Graham Potter's Chelsea pre-match press conference: Transfers, Sunderland result and improvements needed

West Ham boss Graham Potter has been speaking to the media before Friday night's Premier League game against Chelsea at the London Stadium (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Graham Potter was asked about the need to improve his West Ham squad in the final 10 days of the transfer window:

Potter - "The profile is one we think about privately, because I think that helps us in the market. It's about finding the right person, profile and player. That isn't easy to do, especially when there are PSR restrictions. We have a certain market, and our job is to look for players who can improve us, while improving the players here... The squad has had investment over a number of years and we have to get more out of the squad we have right now. We're also looking to improve, and we'll look to find a solution."

His thoughts on the Sunderland result and performance:

"The reality is that it was a disappointing result, of course. At the same time you have to analyse the situation and how you can improve. It wasn't a 3-0 game in my opinion - I think we did a lot right until the opening goal. They scored out of pretty much nothing, and then we didn't react how we would've liked. We didn't do well enough for the second goal, and then the third was a breakway.
The result creates a negative feeling, but we have to work to change that."

The West Ham manager was then asked about Mads Hermansen's debut and the goals conceded:

 "I don't I need a one-on-one chat, we have our own goalkeeper coaches who deal with those things. He's trained well and he'll play tomorrow.

"I think they were two different situations at Sunderland. The first goal wasn't a good action from us - it's a one in a million header that goes in the bottom corner. It's not good from our perspective, but I don't think that will happen all the time. It's one action that can happen, which is a learning point. The second goal - we got our organisation wrong, and I think we need to react better. I don't think it's necessarily a pattern, though."

What the future holds for West Ham and more on the Sunderland game:

Potter - "I've known all along it's a work in progress, and you always have to balance expectation and reality. I think there's a lot more to come from the team, and I'm confident in doing that. At the same time I know the result was the result, and there was criticism for that.
When you understand football, you understand how the game and the goal and the environment can change. It wasn't a case of not running, it was a case of conceding the first goal in a not good way, and then not reacting like we would've liked.
We came out of the second phase unorganised and didn't defend our box well enough, which we need to do.

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