After being linked to the Wolves job, Graham Potter will visit Molineux for the first time as West Ham manager.
Potter was one candidate to become Wolves manager before the Old Gold hired Vitor Pereira.
The Englishman turned down the West Midlands club in favour of joining West Ham, with both clubs satisfied with their hires.
On Tuesday night, Wolves welcome West Ham to Molineux as Potter prepares to face the club that wanted to recruit him back in December.
Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images
Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images
Graham Potter shares sympathy for Gary O’Neil
Potter had reservations about joining Wolves due to concerns about the owners’ model, which was a problem Gary O’Neil related to.
O’Neil didn’t feel supported by Fosun during his time at Molineux; however, the Englishman didn’t help his cause by leading his squad into a relegation battle.
When speaking to the media ahead of West Ham’s trip to the West Midlands, Potter shared his verdict on the Old Gold and, interestingly, O’Neil.
“Wolves have always had a talented group, a talented squad,” he said.
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“The previous manager, Gary [O’Neil], probably was a little bit unlucky in terms of how the season started for them and then you get behind the mark a little bit.”
Potter offered some sympathy to O’Neil for how things ended at Wolves, which comes as a surprise given just how poor the squad were under the former manager.
The West Ham boss didn’t dwell on O’Neil too much, as he quickly diverted attention to how Pereira has managed to turn things around at Wolves.
“Credit to the new manager, as he’s come in, he’s stabilised the team, got results and good performances, and it’s clear what they’re doing in terms of how they attack, how they defend.”
Potter’s start at West Ham vs Vitor Pereira’s start at Wolves
The former Chelsea manager admitted that he’s expecting a ‘tough game’ at Molineux for his West Ham squad.
It’s been a mixed start for Potter, who took over from Julen Lopetegui in East London in January.
24/25 Premier League Graham Potter Vitor Pereira
Wins 3 5
Draws 2 2
Losses 4 6
Goals for 9 16
Goals against 10 17
Points 11 17
Vitor Pereira vs Graham Potter 2024/25 Premier League
It’s interesting to compare how the two managers have done at their new clubs since the mid-season switches, particularly as Potter was a candidate for Wolves.
In the table, eight points separate the two clubs, with the opportunity there for the Old Gold to try and limit the gap between 17th and 16th.