Potter responds to online mockery: I try not to do Pilates in an abnormal place

Former Chelsea and West Ham United manager Graham Potter recently hit back on social media at a mocking comment directed at him. A user commented under his Pilates training photo, saying, "Hope you're better at Pilates than you were at football management," and Potter replied: "I try not to do Pilates in an abnormal place, then I'm fine."

Since leaving English football, Potter has become a highly respected figure in Sweden. He often posts videos sharing his football thoughts on social media, with captions frequently using hashtags such as #reflection, #learning, #leadership and #teamwork. This time he shared a photo of himself doing Pilates training, but it unexpectedly attracted online mockery.

An account called "All Things Essex" commented: "Hope you're better at Pilates than you were at football management." Potter immediately replied: "I try not to do Pilates in an abnormal place, then I'm fine." His response led to speculation over what he was referring to.

Who was the "abnormal" reference aimed at?

Potter's coaching career began at Leeds Carnegie and Ostersund, where he was highly successful, so those two clubs can essentially be ruled out. He then returned to England to manage Swansea, before being recruited by Brighton a year later. The word "abnormal" is rarely used to describe modern Brighton, so Brighton can also be ruled out.

Next came Chelsea. During Potter's time in charge at Chelsea, the club was in a period of turmoil following BlueCo's takeover, with the club spending heavily in the transfer market and making decisions that were questioned. Potter lost 11 of his first 31 matches and was eventually dismissed.

After his failure at Chelsea, Potter would have been expected to be especially cautious with his next job, as another wrong choice could have ended his coaching career in England. However, he chose West Ham United, which was possibly an even more "abnormal" Premier League club than Chelsea in 2022.

West Ham United's unsuccessful spell

Potter replaced Lopetegui, who was described as someone who could "take the party atmosphere out of a party." Potter brought his own more subdued football style. He won his second match, but then managed only one victory in the following six games, with the team eventually finishing 14th. The start to the new season was also slow, and he was dismissed when the team was 19th.

Potter was not only dismissed by West Ham United but also left English football entirely, returning to Sweden, where he is more appreciated, to rebuild his career. However, when he is doing Pilates, it may be best not to disturb him.