Graham Potter felt his experiment with Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic as wing-backs paid off throughout Chelsea’s win at Crimson Bull Salzburg.
- Chelsea confirmed knockout berth with 2-1 win
- Sterling & Pulisic used as wingbacks
- Potter proud of their performances
WHAT HAPPENED? The Premier League outfit sealed their place within the spherical of 16 of the Champions League courtesy of a 2-1 victory in Austria, with Kai Havertz scoring the winner within the sixty fourth minute after Mateo Kovacic’s early opener. Potter as soon as once more deployed Sterling within the left wing-back place and likewise put Pulisic within the corresponding function on the proper. Each gamers proved equal to the duty as they continually stretched Salzburg’s again 4 and USMNT star Pulisic was the creator of Havertz’s decisive purpose with a mazy run adopted by a go into the German on the sting of the world.
WHAT THEY SAID: When quizzed on how Sterling and Pulisic fared in unfamiliar roles, Potter advised BT Sport post-match: “Yeah I assumed it was fairly good. We acquired Raheem in some good areas and Christian as nicely, and the very fact they [Salzburg] needed to defend in a again 4 fairly extensive in huge areas allowed Conor [Gallagher] and Kai to get in.”
The Chelsea boss added: “First half I assumed we most likely may have had one other couple of objectives, however not straightforward due to how they defend – they’re so good. However total actually proud of the efficiency.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Chelsea have been capable of function in extensive areas extra successfully and that helped them to open up Salzburg’s cussed defensive unit. Nevertheless, Pulisic was caught out of place for Salzburg’s equaliser as he allowed Maximilian Wober the area to place a cross into the field for Junior Adamu to attain.
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WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA? Potter’s troops will now shift their focus to home motion as they’re set to conflict towards the supervisor’s former facet Brighton on Saturday within the Premier League.