Graham Potter’s season ended as it began, with a 3-0 defeat. And there the similarities may have ended, given that the victorious teams were Sunderland and France. Eliezer Mayenda, Daniel Ballard and Wilson Isidor, Potter’s tormentors in August, are rarely compared with Kylian Mbappe and Bradley Barcola, who ended Sweden’s World Cup.
He has gone from the Stadium of Light to the MetLife Stadium. Sacked by West Ham, a saviour for Sweden, there has been a redemptive feel to it. The eventual verdict must be that he is among those culpable for West Ham’s relegation, even if his own participation in their campaign was curtailed by a September firing. He got five games with the Hammers in the Premier League, four with Sweden in the World Cup.
He ended it looking more comfortable in his skin and confident in his demeanour than he ever appeared at Chelsea and West Ham. It also finished with Sweden being utterly outclassed by France. The consolation prize may be that they lost to the eventual World Cup winners. “We had to be perfect and even if we were I am not sure if that would have been enough, if I am brutally honest,” said Potter. “I personally haven’t seen a better team.”
Sweden may be a more forgiving environment than east or west London – though his axed predecessor Jon Dahl Tomasson might disagree – but Potter could be spared a brutal inquest. It is a perilous time to be a manager of a European side returning home. Steve Clarke and Ronald Koeman are gone, falling on their own swords. Julian Nagelsmann may fall on someone else’s. Potter’s Sweden were porous at the back in the United States but he has enhanced his reputation in the last few months. He will survive.
Realism dictated Sweden were underdogs against France. “You look at the careers and CVs of the French team and compare them to ours,” said Potter. The magnificence of Michael Olise and Mbappe meant they would have demolished many a side. And, in the wider picture, Potter has taken Sweden further than felt feasible.
He has gone from the Stadium of Light to the MetLife Stadium. Sacked by West Ham, a saviour for Sweden, there has been a redemptive feel to it. The eventual verdict must be that he is among those culpable for West Ham’s relegation, even if his own participation in their campaign was curtailed by a September firing. He got five games with the Hammers in the Premier League, four with Sweden in the World Cup.
He ended it looking more comfortable in his skin and confident in his demeanour than he ever appeared at Chelsea and West Ham. It also finished with Sweden being utterly outclassed by France. The consolation prize may be that they lost to the eventual World Cup winners. “We had to be perfect and even if we were I am not sure if that would have been enough, if I am brutally honest,” said Potter. “I personally haven’t seen a better team.”
Sweden may be a more forgiving environment than east or west London – though his axed predecessor Jon Dahl Tomasson might disagree – but Potter could be spared a brutal inquest. It is a perilous time to be a manager of a European side returning home. Steve Clarke and Ronald Koeman are gone, falling on their own swords. Julian Nagelsmann may fall on someone else’s. Potter’s Sweden were porous at the back in the United States but he has enhanced his reputation in the last few months. He will survive.
Realism dictated Sweden were underdogs against France. “You look at the careers and CVs of the French team and compare them to ours,” said Potter. The magnificence of Michael Olise and Mbappe meant they would have demolished many a side. And, in the wider picture, Potter has taken Sweden further than felt feasible.
3 months ago
