Four Things Learned From Graham Potter’s First Match In Charge Of Chelsea Against Red Bull Salzburg

Generally there was a lot to look at following Graham Potter’s very first match in control of Chelsea as Raheem Sterling opened the scoring before Noah Okafor spoiled the party..

Once more, Stamford Bridge was witness to an innovative leader in the dugout. Graham Potter has spent under a week in the project and also experienced the first night of his of Champions League football in person, a scenario where there’s very little space to hide.

With the postponement of the Blues’ clashes against Liverpool and Fulham, Wednesday night ‘s fight will be the only chance of supporters and pundits equally to cast the judgement of theirs until after the international break when Chelsea take on Crystal Palace. Obviously, which might have a little advantage in several of the squad adjusting to their brand new coach ‘s techniques before a hectic time in October..

Emerging from the tunnel ahead of kick off, Potter gave and also received applause out of the group in front of kick off as a brand new era dawned for the Blues. Regrettably, he wasn’t afforded a fairytale start, but every story must begin somewhere, even in case it had been with a draw..

takes a glance at 5 things we learned from the very first ninety minutes of Graham Potter’s Chelsea.

Formation

We are going for good know-how and good experience of the Champions League and this football club,” stated Potter in front of the game, before including on the development, “I will not provide a lot away to help keep folks guessing”..

While it mostly browsed as Potter had selected a back 4, there’s a lot of discussion that 3 central defenders are utilised against Chelsea’s Austrian Champions League opponents. With Cesar Azpilicueta starting in front of Wesley Fofana and Kalidou Koulibaly possibly providing the largest surprise..

No matter, in the end, the staff announcement provided a lot of anticipation and intrigue plus the opening minutes possibly more as onlookers attempted to identify the team’s shape. In the long run, the Blues established with Azpilicueta and marc Cucurella on each side of Thiago Silva, with Reece James allowed lots of licences to roam forward. Raheem Sterling came out to provide components of a wing back traveling forwards but didn’t have way too many preventive needs, with Cucurella almost being required to offer double duty, holding some full back responsibilities as well. Jorginho will drop in to the backline to claim the ball with Mason Mount, and Mateo Kovacic was inspired to look ahead with Kai Havertz and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang leading the series.

As Chelsea became used to under Thomas Tuchel, freedom is like it is going to be crucial in defence and beyond. It’s still too soon for way too many takeaways, but Potter’s words might give Fofana and also Koulibaly some hope, although whether anybody else may do the job Cucurella did remains being noticed.

Raheem Sterling

The wing back was not needed to complete any defending. It definitely was not a job most would have expected Sterling to get started with as he emerged as Tuchel’s priority signing over the summer time and also concept as the secret to unlocking Chelsea’s attack. The Blues’ former boss had mainly deployed Sterling very high up the pitch, adequately within the forward line to use fear into opposition defences. While Chelsea had not looked fluid going forward, the former Man City ace had still managed 3 goals before Potter’s appearance.

Set very, very broad against Salzburg, Sterling were as threatening as ever. His greater position provided far more room for the winger to run into, and the 27-year-old still was able to make his impact felt around the 18-yard-box as he consistently arrived at the far past.

It is not possible to argue with his 48th minute goal, with an extremely cool touch taken before a finish from the edge of the package that nearly were way too easy. Even under a fresh objective, almost £50million was spent well because of the club as he recorded his 250th goal involvement in all of tournaments in the club level.

Ben Chilwell

If Potter’s formation is one thing he hopes to draw forward, it can leave Chilwell in an extremely tough place. The Blues’ wing back was sparingly applied by Potter’s predecessor in the opening days of the season, most might have expected him to possess a concrete job going ahead, especially after the impact of his against West Ham. If little else, there was a level of anticipation in exactly how Tuchel introduced Chilwell previous term to amazing impact.

Nevertheless, with the device used against Salzburg, it’s tough to observe were Chilwell would normally function. The blend of Cucurella along with Sterling appears quite professional, with the Spaniard’s placement in the back 3 and taking on protective duties out wide remaining particularly important. The former Leicester star is going to be under no impression of the dimensions of the job he today must finish to make the place of his in the starting XI.

Potter will certainly have further tactics and formations to apply in the coming months, and also Chilwell might however be the favoured option in an additional set up, but possibly after to keep a watch on.

Issues will not be resolved overnight..

What should be remembered is Potter has yet in order to have time that is much to leave the impression of his on the squad or even to apply the minutiae of the tactics of his. It should be also remembered that the club didn’t part ways with Tuchel resulting from his coaching skills a great deal as his first with the method Todd Boehly plus co hope to put available at Chelsea..

As a result, issues which were present last week are not going to solve immediately. So while Chelsea dominated possession and also demonstrated some attacking intent, perhaps it ought to be surprising they came out with only 1 shot on goal in the opening forty five minutes. By the end, Sterling had managed an objective, but with seventy three % possession, Chelsea could just deal with 4 shots on target..

Furthermore, the Blues have revealed some vulnerability in defence this phrase and can be upset with their efforts to avoid Noah Okafor’s goal, with a selection of possibilities seeming to show themselves. Thiago Silva’s failed tackle might headline the build up to the objective, though the Blues’ loss of possession and also the simplicity in what Salzburg transitioned up the pitch is of equal concern.

Potter is delighted for more hours to plan without any fight in the coming weekend before his team departs on overseas duty..