Erik ten Hag is preparing for the challenge of facing Graham Potter for a second time already this season. The two bosses locked horns on the opening day of the new Premier League season, with the latter snatching a 2-1 win at Old Trafford while still in charge at Brighton.
A first-half double from Pascal Gross handed Potter's former side the lead before Alexis Mac Allister gave the Red Devils a lifeline via an own goal. But, the Seagulls stood strong and took three crucial points from the home side.
It was the first and only time that Ten Hag and Potter had come up against one another. And, after having now tested the waters, they're set to lock horns again at Stamford Bridge on Saturday as the race for Champions League qualification heats up.
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Speaking to the press ahead of the blockbuster bout, the Dutchman downplayed talk of a tactical matchup and took himself - and Potter - out of the spotlight. Ten Hag said: "It is nothing, I think from that game. It is a different team, different game. We are further in the process.
"Now I know more about him and maybe in the first game he knew more about me, Manchester United. It is not a fight between managers."
Potter was far more complimentary of his opposite number and proclaimed his 'huge respect' for the Dutchman. The 47-year-old also detailed how well United have done since his former side overrun United on the opening day.
"I have huge respect for [Erik] Ten Hag, the job he’s done in his career, and his quality as a coach," Potter said. "You can see people adapt and adjust as they go into the competition faze. So they have done well.
"Obviously, it wasn’t a great start from their perspective but they’ve battled back, got points and played well. It’s going to be a tough game," he added. "They’ve changed a little in how they build-up, they are a little bit more direct.
"At the same time, they have the same quality. The have the threats of [Marcus] Rashford, Anthony, [Jadon] Sancho and Bruno Fernandes plays a key role for them. So there are a lot of similarities but they seem to have adapted to the competition, adapted to each other, learned more about each other. It’s a normal process really.
"I’d been at Brighton for three years when we played them and Erik had been at Manchester United six weeks if that, so there is a lot of learning you need to do and a process that you need to go through. That’s normal. He has the quality and naturally, they will get better and better as time goes on."
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