Newly appointed West Ham United manager Graham Potter remains optimistic despite his team’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round on Friday.
Potter, who replaced Julen Lopetegui on Thursday, managed his first game just a day after taking charge. Although his side took the lead, goals from Amadou Onana and Morgan Rogers secured Villa’s comeback victory at Villa Park.
Speaking after the game, Potter highlighted his excitement at joining West Ham and praised the team’s effort.
Friday night, Villa Park, full house, 6,500 West Ham fans who were amazing. Our performance gave me a lot of encouragement,” he said. “The players tried to do what we asked of them. We’re disappointed to be out, but there are positives to build on.”
The former Chelsea and Brighton manager emphasized the talent within the squad and expressed his focus on fostering collective teamwork.
West Ham, currently 14th in the Premier League after 20 matches, will look to bounce back when they host Fulham on Tuesday.