Potter under heavy fire in Sweden following Dutch humiliation: 'Call me incompetent'

[p]The Englishman admitted during a press conference that he feels under intense pressure before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sweden/OQyqbHWB/"]Sweden[/a]'s final crucial group match against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/japan/ULXPdOUj/"]Japan[/a]. [/p][p][b]"Of course. It would be strange if I didn't. But do I take into account what you (the press, ed.) write? No. It's irrelevant. I don't listen to what you say. Then we can have a good conversation here, regardless of what you have written. That's the best way to do it."[/b][/p][p]For the former Chelsea coach, it's not a problem if negative things are written about him. [b]"I am a person who wants to do well and wants to win. You may think that I am incompetent, and in that case, I accept that."[/b][/p][p]Potter also admitted that he was completely off guard by Dutch coach Ronald Koeman's decision to use Sunderland striker, Brian Brobbey, against the Swedes, where he scored twice. [/p][p]In the wake of the heavily criticized 2-2 opening draw against Japan, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/koeman-ronald/vHeYAvb2/"]Koeman[/a] was under immense pressure to find an effective focal point for the Dutch front line. Choosing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/brobbey-brian/pfAvgQUT/"]Brobbey[/a] over traditional starters like Memphis Depay shocked fans and pundits alike, as the 24-year-old forward had spent much of the qualifying campaign on the fringes of the national squad.[/p][embed guid="c96e59b6-cb2b-4c3d-920b-c2285d59dff5" url="https://x.com/HansDiabethics/status/2069327287133090140" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"I did not see it coming"[/b], said Potter. [b]"Brobbey changed the dynamic of the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/netherlands/WYintcWb/"]Netherlands[/a] a lot. He made them go from being a good team to being a very, very good team. To come up against that class of opposition, with that width, that control and the 'nine' threat was a bit too much for us",[/b] said Potter.[/p][p][b]"He hadn't played for the national team for a while. I thought they wouldn't start him. But they did, and you never know until the team is released before kick-off.  That's why sometimes it's an advantage to be able to keep the lineup a secret.[/b] Because then you can surprise the opponent. It's not easy to achieve that. So congratulations to the Netherlands. Tactically, we did not react well enough to it", said Potter.[/p][p]Sweden, who have three points after their win against Tunesia will face Japan on Friday morning 01.00 CET. [/p]