Over a week on from the loss in Zagreb and the picture couldn’t have been any more different at Chelsea with the manager’s job changing hands to Graham Potter from Thomas Tuchel. However, his opening game saw many familiar patterns and frustrations emerge in a 1-1 home draw against RB Salzburg.
Raheem Sterling got the opening goal of the game to put Chelsea ahead just after half time, but the visitors hit back through Noah Okafor to leave with a point, so here’s five things we learnt.
Graham Potter’s positive philosophy makes the right impression against RB Salzburg
Since Potter was announced as the new Chelsea manager there’s been lots of speculation on how he would set up this Chelsea side and last night provided that first glimpse.
It was a fluid system built on a base of three centre backs, much like Tuchel throughout his time here. Moving forward, the two wingbacks, Reece James and Sterling, were encouraged to act like wingers and Jorginho sat in front of the defence whilst Mason Mount and Mateo Kovacic were given the freedom to roam. Finally, Kai Havertz was playing just off Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang up front.
This notably came along with a higher intensity and tempo in possession with a greater desire to move the ball forward at a pace not seen in recent months. Added to this was the sight of more players making it into the box for attacking moves that included late runs from the midfield. This did however leave the Blues vulnerable in transition as seen for the goal with so many bodies caught up the field.
Raheem Sterling shines in dual wingback winger role
Fans were left scratching their heads when the line-up was announced and trying to figure out where Sterling in particular was playing. Was it on the left of an attacking three? Or was it as a left wing back? In the end it turned out to be both.
Deployed in a role Potter has used Leandro Trossard this season, Sterling’s job was to stay high on the left hand side to provide Chelsea with an outlet and use his close control and dribbling skills to take on defenders.
The reward came in the 47th minute when he made his way to the edge of the Salzburg box unnoticed and capitalised on a loose ball with a pinpoint finish into the far corner. However, the risk of playing someone so attacking minded role in that role was apparent for the equaliser as Salzburg exploited the space in the channel down Chelsea’s left.
Defensive deficiencies brought to the fore in RB Salzburg’s equaliser
When Thomas Tuchel first arrived at the club, the focus was on solidifying the defence and he did so with great success too. But, in recent weeks and months that once impenetrable wall at the back for Chelsea has shown signs of cracking and in similar manners too like Wednesday night.
First of all, there seems to be a sense of naivety in the squad or lack of game awareness at times. There were countless opportunities where Chelsea players could’ve brought an opposition man down to coin the phrase take one for the team and prevent a dangerous attack from building as it did. Then the all too familiar scene of a player failing to clear a ball, this time Thiago Silva, before Cesar Azpilicueta was caught on his heels in the box as his man got across him.
On several occasions, that particular attack could’ve been snuffed out and the ease at which Salzburg cut through the Blues is something that will need to be up high up on Potter’s list to rectify.
It’s time to look beyond the experienced options
Over the summer it was widely reported that Hakim Ziyech wanted to leave the club as was the same with Christian Pulisic. Both however once again came off the bench on Wednesday and both failed to have a positive impact on the game or in Ziyech’s case he hindered hope of a late winner.
The Moroccan looked disinterested in the last few games of the Tuchel era and a similar theme emerged against Salzburg as anything he tried failed to come off. Simple passes being overhit, dribbles not being completed and looking like he was overthinking things.
Elsewhere on the pitch it’s been hard to watch Azpilicueta’s decline after long periods of joy in a Chelsea shirt, but he was partially at fault for the goal as explained and a further indication of the drop in his game and negative effect he’s having on the side.
In reserve there’s someone like Trevoh Chalobah who had a successful first season at the club in 2021/22 but has been pushed to the margins this time around and would offer a more beneficial option in that role.
The search for a cutting edge in front of goal continues against RB Salzburg
Striker and more specifically finishing issues have plagued Chelsea for many seasons and now and have come to light at the worst times in cup finals and matches of similar stature. On Wednesday, they were brought back into the limelight.
By the time the referee blew the whistle for half time Chelsea had taken nine shots on goal but crucially none of those were on target. 50% of their shots from that point would be on target including the goal but they notably failed to trouble the Salzburg goalkeeper with the regularity you would expect.
Aubameyang and Havertz were largely anonymous whilst Armando Broja only got a small amount of time to impress again, something that perhaps needs switching in the weeks to come.
Written by Harrison Burridge (@hburridge2)
Edited by Harrison Burridge (@hburridge2)
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