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How did Freddie Potts fare on Champions League debut after West Ham exit?
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- How did Freddie Potts fare on Champions League debut after West Ham exit?
Freddie Potts featured for Club Brugge in the Champions League for the first time since leaving West Ham United on Tuesday.
There was a general feeling at the London Stadium that the Englishman would be a key part of the Hammers squad this season.
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Having featured semi-regularly in the Premier League, he looked ready to take the Championship by storm.
He looked set to be the midfield general for Nuno Espirito Santo in the second tier.
Things didn't turn out that way as the 22-year-old completed a surprise exit earlier in the summer.
Potts moved to Brugge and has now made his Champions League debut, but how did he get on?
Freddie Potts tastes defeat on Champions League debut vs Aston Villa
It is quite ironic that a first appearance in Europe's elite competition would come against an English side.
The midfielder had already featured against Aston Villa as he played in the two defeats last campaign.
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This time around he was lining up against Unai Emery's men for Brugge in the Champions League.
The Englishman featured across 86 minutes as his side ultimately fell to a 3-2 home defeat.
Potts did manage to complete 56 passes with an 89 per cent accuracy on the day, the third most on the pitch.
He did come close to scoring as his only effort fell just wide of Zion Suzuki 's goal.
It was his work going the other way that was impressive as he chipped in with seven defensive actions, including two tackles and three clearances.
The Englishman also was on the winning side of three duels, although losing six does paint a picture of his struggles at times.
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There were positives to his game, but was often given a lesson in quality by Villa's Joao Gomes , Boubacar Kamara and John McGinn .
It was a positive overall experience for Potts in the Champions League, while questions still remain at West Ham.
Freddie Potts opens up on 'dream' exit from West Ham as Premier League offers rejected Was Potts right to leave West Ham for Club Brugge?
It may feel silly to suggest that the midfielder may have been better off staying in East London.
He was playing in Europe's elite competition on the same night West Ham narrowly won away to Bolton Wanderers.
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It just feels as if Potts should have been the man to guide the Irons forward with the hope of getting back into the Premier League.
As an academy lad, that would have surely been a dream for him.
He has instead decided to go to Belgium with a new challenge of featuring in the Champions League.
It doesn't feel as if the Rush Green product will regret that call, but either choice would have had its merit.
Everyone at West Ham will wish Potts well regardless.
