“Potter: This Isn’t Just a Friendly – Álvarez’s Shock Return and Toffees Heat Up the Stakes!” Graham Potter is eager for the next chapter in the club’s Premier League Summer Series journey as they arrive in Chicago, Illinois, ahead of…
Key Takeaways | Potter on Facing Everton, Pre-Season Progress, and Álvarez’s Comeback
West Ham United Head Coach Graham Potter is eager for the next chapter in the club’s Premier League Summer Series journey as they arrive in Chicago, Illinois, ahead of Wednesday evening’s second fixture of the tournament.
The Hammers will take on David Moyes’ Everton at the famous Soldier Field Stadium, with kick-off set for 5:30pm CDT (11:30pm BST). The team aims to bounce back after a narrow 2-1 loss to Manchester United last Saturday.
While in New Jersey for six days, Potter and his squad enjoyed various on-field and community activities. Potter even took part in a Premier League outreach event at Washington Elementary School in Kearny.
After wrapping up training at Rutgers University, the team made a short flight from Newark to Chicago on Tuesday. Potter now looks forward to diving into the rest of the U.S. tour while continuing crucial preparations for the 2025/26 season.
Tickets are still available for the Everton match, as well as West Ham’s final Summer Series game against AFC Bournemouth in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday. Fans can get 20% off selected seats using the promo code PLSS20.
With kick-off fast approaching, here are the key points Potter shared with the press…
Sometimes you have to remember that we’re playing Everton at Soldier Field in Chicago, and remind yourself how cool that is
An exciting occasion
We’re happy to be here, and we’re excited for the game on Wednesday. Sometimes you have to remember that we’re playing Everton at Soldier Field in Chicago, and remind yourself how cool that is.
We’re expecting a competitive game. I thought that’s what it was like against Manchester United on Saturday. It wasn’t just a you-have-it, we-have-it kind of match – there were challenges, there was intensity, and that’s good for getting us ready for the season.
Overall, it’s going to be another good experience and we’re very proud to be here and to be taking part in the Summer Series.
Summer Series objectives
We’ve got two games to go and we want to try and push to finish our tour positively.
At this stage of the season, we’re here to develop the team, the fitness and the performance of the team and environment, but ultimately we’re competitive and we do want to win.
Having said that, this is still a development stage. We play Everton fairly early on in the new campaign, but that hasn’t really come into my pre-match thinking, to be honest.
We play them at the end of September, and a lot could change between now and then. For now, we’re just focused on the Summer Series and doing well in the games we’ve got left.
Pre-season so far
From my perspective, it’s been a really positive period so far. I’ve been working with the players for three-and-a-bit weeks now – we started at Rush Green, then went to Germany, and obviously now we’re here in the US.
The boys have been really focused and open to what we’re trying to do, and I think we’ve all become closer and made some good progress on the pitch.
Coming to the States is a different test for all of us, and I think it’s been brilliant so far. It’s been a different challenge, but everything’s continued to progress in the right way, so I think everything’s looking good.
Putting his stamp on things
The period we had between being appointed and the end of the season was really important, because we found out lots about the team, and a lot about the players as individuals.
But at the same time, you can’t beat this period where you have more time to be able to really do some work that you hope will be a foundation for what’s to come over the course of a season.
It’s a chance to establish how you want to play, how you want to develop the playing style, how you want to make it clear for the players that they know their individual roles within the team structure. Then the longer you do that, hopefully the more games and more training sessions we have, the better we’ll be.
Strong camaraderie
It sounds obvious, but pre-season is a good period to get to know each other more.
You’ve got to find the balance as well, because I think you can overdo it. You’ve got to give the players some space as well. They’re human beings and they probably need a bit of a break from my voice and sometimes each other.
It’s about finding that balance, but it’s the only time of the year when you can really spend sustained time with each other, and get to know how each other work.
I think the group’s in a really good place at the moment, and everyone’s enjoyed the trip so far.
Álvarez back with the squad
Edson Álvarez is back with us. He’s in a really good place, as you can imagine, after the summer that he’s had winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup with Mexico.
He had a well-earned break after a long tournament, and it was his first session with us today. It was nice to see him, and I think all the lads enjoyed having him back out there.
I think the Everton game might be a bit too soon for him, because he’s only had that one session. Sunday, against Bournemouth, might be more likely for him.
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