Chelsea Salzburg Reactions – Graham Potter’s first game in charge of Chelsea ended in a tie with RB Salzburg, giving his team a difficult road to the Champions League quarterfinals.
Potter was hired six days ago, and after a week he described as “whirlwind,” he experienced his first Champions League match after never having witnessed the league in person.
The former Brighton manager chose Raheem Sterling as an advanced wing-back for his competitive debut, and the risk paid off when the striker curled the ball into the bottom corner just after the break.
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The defeat against Dinamo Zagreb in Chelsea’s opening Group E match last week, which resulted in Thomas Tuchel’s dismissal, was a marked improvement over that effort.
However, on the 75th minute, Noah Okafor headed in Junior Adamu’s low cross after Thiago Silva botched a tackle, giving Matthias Jaissle’s well-prepared Austrian team a point.
That goal served as a reminder of the dangers Potter’s optimistic strategy entailed because it caught Sterling and Marc Cucurella off guard.
Reece James’ free-kick miss and substitute Hakim Ziyech’s nearly goal-bound header at the back post both presented opportunities for the home team to win.
There was no fairytale Champions League debut for the Englishman despite Potter making the maximum five substitutions and Chelsea producing a number of wonderful chances to win the game in the closing 10 minutes.
Raheem Sterling was impressive playing the left wing back position unconventionally.
When questioned about the new role, he replied:“I was playing in a slightly different role.”
“He [Graham Potter] said play out wide so in time I will get better. I’m happy to play along the front line. He wanted me out wide running at the full-back.
“We have got a big game coming up next [in the Champions League – at home against AC Milan] and we need to get a win from that.”
“I think with how we played, the chances we created, we dominated. It’s a bad result in the end but we played some good football at times.”
“I took the chance but we have to finish the job off.”
“It felt like we were in control, but one chance one goal for them. Under a new manager we will get better and keep progressing.”
New Blues boss Graham Potter spoke to BT sports after the game:
“It’s always irritating when you concede a goal. Overall the defensive performance was quite good, it’s just the little details we will have to improve.
“It has not been easy for the boys, they have responded to us really well over the last few days and it’s a point we will have to take and get better.
“The attitude has been fantastic, no complaints apart from the fact we have not taken three points.”
“We’re disappointed with the result. I thought the boys gave everything.”
“We scored a good goal, but lost a bit in the second half but their goalkeeper has made some good saves.”
“It is what it is, we have to dust ourselves down. Personality and application was good, we will get better.”
“We got Raheem in one-on-one situations quite often and the goal was a good result of that.”
The Serie A champions will be the group’s next opponent at Stamford Bridge on October 5.
