The Graham Potter era kicks off at Chelsea on Wednesday night. The Blues will host Red Bull Salzburg at Stamford Bridge in Champions League Group E.
Potter has suddenly been thrust into one of the premier jobs in world football following a successful two-plus years at Brighton.
On home soil in the #UCL midweek! pic.twitter.com/QGDEaLsbF6— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 12, 2022
On home soil in the #UCL midweek! pic.twitter.com/QGDEaLsbF6
Potter’s appointment at Chelsea won’t impress Red Bull Salzburg. The serial Austrian Bundesliga winners will be out for all threepoints.
Salzburg drew 1-1 with AC Milan on matchday No. 1 of Group E. Noah Okafor gave the Red Bulls the lead, but Milan levelled just before halftime through Alexis Saelemaekers.
Chelsea went to Dinamo Zagreb and lost 1-0. The defeat was Chelsea’s third in three matches and cost Thomas Tuchel his job.
The Blues had a record of 3W-1D-3L under Tuchel to start the campaign, which was deemed insufficient by Chelsea’s new owners.
Wednesday’s match at Stamford Bridge will be the first European tournament encounter between Red Bull Salzburg and Chelsea. It is a game both clubs need to obtain points from to improve their chances of progressing to the round of 16.
Chelsea did not play at the weekend in the Premier League due to Queen Elizabeth II’s death. The Blues’ upcoming weekend match with Liverpool has also been postponed. This will be the Blues’ final match until after the international break, which will cause fixture congestion later in the season.
Salzburg won 3-0 at the weekend against SV Ried. Attacking midfielder Benjamin Sesko scored for the third time in all competitions this season in the win. Sesko is one of the top young players in Europe and has already agreed to join sister club RB Leipzig next summer.
Potter has just one injury heading into the match on Wednesday. Defensive midfielder N’Golo Kante remains on the sidelines with a thigh injury.
Matthias Jaissle has a long list of injured players at Salzburg. Defenders Oumar Solet and Max Wober are both major doubts due to injuries. Likely joining them on the sidelines are Luka Sucic, Mamady Diambou, Samson Tijani, and Justin Omoregie.
Red Bull Salzburg forward Noah Okafor goes into Champions League matchday No. 2 in fine form. The Swiss attacker has six goals combined in the Champions League and Bundesliga. Chelsea are led in goals by Raheem Sterling with three in all competitions.
Potter’s first match in charge should finish as a Chelsea win. Playing at home should suit the Blues as they pick up a 2-1 win on Champions League matchday No. 2.