After all the upheaval over the past week or so triggered by the sacking of Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea needed something here. Graham Potter needed something here. The Champions League tie in his league was his first experience for the new coach and was a highlight of his sudden promotion. It’s going to be a wild night for him.
For most of the second half, it felt as though Raheem Sterling had kick-started Potter’s tenure. By rolling the stud to set the ball and swinging his right boot, the winger found Red Bull in the far corner of his Salzburg net and Chelsea, following the trauma of the defeat, decided to move to the Champions League in his campaign. I could feel a similar firing point. at Dinamo Zagreb.
Salzburg had another idea. It was a battle for cohesion as Potter instructed his players in a new form, and the sucker punch arrived. was a case study of. Then he got it wrong.
The ball went to him on the left side of the Chelsea defense, but he missed the timing to challenge substitute Junior Adam and Salzburg entered. Adam crossed low, Noah moved his Okafor, and his shot deflected off Cesar’s Azpilicueta. Chelsea tried to bounce back but the second half push was in vain. There was nothing but frustration for Potter.
It was impossible to escape the calm atmosphere that clung to the spectacle of the countdown to kickoff. The music is slow and mournful, with a Union Jack hanging behind one of the goals. “RIP Your Majesty” read the banner.
Coming out of the tunnel first to lay the wreath was a pair of Chelsea pensioners, who were chanting God Save the Queen from both sides in the absence of UEFA allowing the national anthem to be played on the PA system. was played in a loud voice.
Potter’s admission was the definition of understatement – necessarily. Dressed in a black suit and tie, he crouched left into his technical area and gave a short round of applause to all four corners of the stadium. Correspondence was reasonable.
Potter’s first Chelsea line-up included three full-backs (Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva lined up), plus centre-halves Wesley Fofana and Kalidou Koulibaly, on the bench in the summer at a combined cost of £108.8m. it was done. Then there was Ben Chilwell.
Notable from the early run was full-back Reece James playing on the right, allowing Mason Mount to push in front of him and Kai Havertz to roam from the No. 10 role. The system was fluid. Potter was looking for confidence on the ball and the confidence to play in tight conditions, but Kepa Arrizabalaga barely moved the team with a heavy pass to Jorginho on the edge of the area. Benjamin Sesko jumped in to steal the ball and Salzburg looked like it was in. However, Sesko was penalized for a soft foul.
The action meandered in the first half, with Salzburg engaging in physical battles, especially through Sesco and Strahinja Pavlovich, playing towering figures back and forth. In the 21st minute there was time for home support to pay tribute to Potter’s predecessor Tuchel, who won his second Champions League title with Chelsea in 2021. . No longer is his super-his Tommy Tuchel, but he will always have a place in their affections. Potter must earn it.
What surprised you about the pitch here? Frankly, nothing. The history of Chelsea and what happened in the past week or so when the club’s new owner sacked his league-winning manager after three defeats this season, taking a calculated risk on a novice at this level of manager. not given.
Chelsea joined the dots before the interval to create a clear note. Too often, from Chelsea’s point of view, the final action went wrong or Salzburg got his body in the way. Hames moved away from Pavlovich, but his cross was too far in front of Pierre his Emerick his Aubameyang. Raheem Sterling beat his man on the other side, but his delivery failed to find their target.
Chelsea’s best opening of the first half fell to Mason Mount. While Arrizabalaga had to be careful not to let a curler from Sesco escape, he blew wide off the edge of the area.
Potter pinned Sterling wide on the left flank and attempts to sort out the formation proved difficult. In the second half he looked like 3-5-2, with Marc Cuclera pushing up on the left side of the defense and Mateokovacic as one of his number 8 jerseys. Havertz was left to sniff out space around Aubameyang, who was a yard out of the pace.
When the breakthrough came, it was about James’ drive (the theme of the night) and search cross from the right of the mount. But Salzburg will not be able to enjoy the replay. Notably, centre-half Bernardo missed a kick and allowed Sterling to get the ball through.
Comments
Post a Comment