Graham Potter addresses Manchester United job links as Erik ten Hag pressure grows | OneFootball

Former Chelsea boss has also spoken on England speculation during an appearance on Monday Night Football on Sky Sports

Graham Potter has been quizzed on links to the managerial posts at both Manchester United and England during an appearance on Sky Sports.

The former Swansea and Brighton boss was the most recent guest on Monday Night Football, appearing alongside presenter David Jones and pundit Jamie Carragher for coverage of the south coast Premier League clash between Bournemouth and Southampton at the Vitality Stadium.

Potter covered a range of subjects having largely not been present in the media since he was sacked by Chelsea after less than seven months in charge back in April 2023.

United were rumoured to have spoken to a whole host of potential managerial candidates before eventually opting to keep Ten Hag and extending his contract until 2026.

"I think what I have read so far in the media, a lot of it is untrue and false," he said. "I think I am the only coach in world football that has been linked with Stoke City and Napoli in the same week, so I take what the media says with a pinch of salt.

Free agent: Graham Potter has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea in April 2023

Mike Egerton/PA Wire

"I have had lots of conversations with lots of people and I think, for the respect of everybody, it's best that I keep those private."

Quizzed on if United presented the sort of challenge he might welcome, Potter joked: "No, I'm sitting here enjoying this challenge of answering your questions. That's where I'm at at the moment."

Potter has also been frequently talked about as a potential candidate to become the new full-time England manager, with Under-21 coach Lee Carsley currently in interim charge of the Three Lions after Gareth Southgate ended his eight-year reign after the defeat by Spain in the final of Euro 2024.

"I think it's time for a commercial break isn't it?” Potter said when asked on Sky if he would welcome a crack at the England job. “I'm only joking. As an Englishman, of course it's a fantastic job. I'm supportive of whatever the FA decide to do and whoever the coach is.

"I think Gareth did a fantastic job and I'm sure Lee will in his time as long as that is, I'm sure he'll do really well."

Asked if he would prefer to stick to club management for now rather than venture into international coaching, Potter replied: "I think I'm open to anything, to be honest. I'm open to everything.

"I had 12 years on a fantastic journey from the fourth tier of Swedish football to the last eight of the Champions League, and I'd really like to spend the next 12 years in the same sort of position, developing players and teams, working with people and trying to make a difference.

"That's the aim. Wherever that is, I'm open to anything."