Lagerbäck Slams Potter's Rest Days: 'You Have to Get Back Into the Dirt'
Sweden legend Lars Lagerbäck has hit out at Graham Potter's relaxed approach during the World Cup, questioning whether the national team boss has been too soft.
SFN Editor ·
Former Sweden head coach Lars Lagerbäck has publicly questioned Graham Potter's man-management decisions at the 2026 World Cup, suggesting the current national team manager has been too lenient with his players following a heavy defeat.
"I become a little puzzled. If the reports I have read are correct, he has given the players quite a lot of time off, both during the preparation phase and in the USA. Maybe he has been a little too soft. After a defeat like this, you have to get back into the dirt again and repeat, or prioritise whatever you need ahead of the next match. You can't just go around mollycoddling and hiding," – Lars Lagerbäck, speaking to Expressen.
The criticism comes after Sweden's dramatic swing in fortunes at the tournament — a 5-1 victory over Tunisia was followed by a crushing 1-5 loss to the Netherlands. With a decisive group stage match approaching, Lagerbäck feels that giving the squad a full rest day after the Netherlands hammering was the wrong call.
Potter, who took charge of the Swedish national team after a successful stint in club football, has defended his approach. He argued that the players needed mental and emotional space to process a high-intensity match before meaningful training could resume.
"The guys trained really well the day after. They recovered well, with everything they need to do. We needed to give them a little room just to breathe," – Graham Potter, speaking to Expressen.
Potter also explained that he deliberately held back any tactical review of the Netherlands match on the Sunday, citing his experience that players absorb information better once they have had time to clear their heads.
Lagerbäck, who guided Sweden to the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Cup, acknowledged Potter's qualities as a leader but was clear that the circumstances demanded a more demanding response. With Sweden's World Cup survival potentially on the line, the debate over Potter's methods is only set to intensify.