With a magical stroke of Kai Havertz’s left boot, a key process has already been ticked off for Graham Potter at Chelsea. A spot within the knockout levels of the Champions League has been secured with a recreation to spare following an exhilarating 2-1 win at FC Salzburg which additionally noticed Chelsea produce their greatest attacking efficiency of Potter’s reign. The high quality of the targets from Havertz and, within the first half, Mateo Kovacic stood out amongst a lot of slick group strikes, whereas Chelsea having to outlive a number of scares on the different finish to make certain of their progress added to a powerful night time total.
It has been fairly the six weeks for Potter, and it might get higher tonight if outcomes go Chelsea’s approach and high spot in Group E can be confirmed forward of the ultimate spherical of fixtures. Just six weeks in the past, Potter took cost of Chelsea for the primary time towards Salzburg, just for a 1-1 draw towards the Austrian champions to go away them backside of the group and going through an ungainly European marketing campaign. In Chelsea’s earlier two attracts towards Brentford and Manchester United, questions have been starting to be requested of an assault that regarded in need of concepts, just for an empathic response to be delivered right here.
It was required to finish Salzburg’s 40-match unbeaten run of their dwelling stadium and probably the most attacking line-up of Potter’s time in cost produced not solely a plethora of probabilities however swift, coherent motion and passing between the gifted forwards on the supervisor’s disposal. If it had not been for the superb Phillip Kohn within the Salzburg aim then Chelsea might have been out of sight by half-time however in between the superb Conor Gallagher and Kovacic pieced it collectively, whereas Thiago Silva was immense to see out the Austrian’s late siege.
Salzburg had proven sufficient within the draw at Stamford Bridge final month for Chelsea to know their mission can be removed from easy. Potter should have been happy sufficient together with his facet’s show on that event for the Chelsea supervisor to return to the identical 3-1-4-2 system he beforehand deployed towards the Austrians, though with Mason Mount rested for the primary time after beginning all eight matches beneath the previous Brighton boss thus far.
Chelsea’s run of fresh sheets got here to a dramatic finish following Casemiro’s late equaliser within the 1-1 draw towards United on Saturday, but it surely has been Chelsea’s assault that had come beneath the highlight following latest performances. Apart from particular person inspiration from Mount, Chelsea had struggled to search out the proper stability on the different finish of the pitch so as to add to their defensive resilience. In response, Potter chosen his most attacking line-up but with Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic at wing-backs, the outcomes have been thrilling.
Yet if the pondering behind Potter’s plans was to do with construction or rotations, Chelsea’s breakthrough got here via a second of off-the-cuff magic from Kovacic. There appeared to be little hazard when Havertz directed the ball in direction of the Croatian on the sting of the field, however Kovacic despatched an off-balance shot with the skin of his left foot fading away from the goalkeeper Kohn and into the highest nook. It was simply his fifth Chelsea aim and was as impressed as his fourth, that spectucular volley towards Liverpool in January.
Kohn stood no likelihood however the goalkeeper quickly grew to become the explanation Chelsea didn’t have the victory secured by half time, in addition to some frustatingly acquainted wasteful ending from the guests. Kohn made a hat-trick of saves to disclaim Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with the second likelihood a obtrusive alternative following slick build-up play between Havertz and Sterling. Aubameyang took too lengthy to get his shot away, whereas Havertz was additionally culpable after failing to beat Kohn with a free header from six yards.
Chelsea’s total play was as quick and fluid as at any level within the earlier eight video games beneath Potter, however the one factor that will have stopped Chelsea followers from having fun with it utterly was the slender scoreline. Salzburg had typically been overwhelmed by the standard of Chelsea within the first half, however additionally they had their moments on the counter-attack the place Potter’s group very a lot regarded off-balance and like a facet who have been fielding extra attackers than defenders. There had been sufficient warnings by Adamu’s equaliser shortly after the restart, however Chelsea have been punished when the ahead steered Maximilian Wober’s scrumptious cross previous Kepa.
It got here shortly after the Blues had survived a VAR evaluate for a Salzburg penalty however Chelsea didn’t wobble. When Havertz produced the second excellent second of high quality to curve a superb shot off the underside of the crossbar, Chelsea had created greater than sufficient probabilities to guide. Havertz’s elegant end wanted to be of the very best order to beat Kohn, who had not lengthy earlier than denied Aubameyang once more in addition to Pulisic – whereas Aduma had cleared a Jorginho header off the road.
With the thrilling encounter nonetheless within the stability, the gifted substitute Benjamin Sesko compelled Kepa right into a diving cease earlier than Silva instincts saved Chelsea when the defender hacked a header from Strahinja Pavlovic off the road. After the standard in assault, Cheslea required grit in defence to recover from the road. Facing an more and more direct and bodily bombardment from Salzburg, Silva ensured a show that started with aptitude completed with speak of a disciplined {and professional} defensive stand. This was a group efficiency, and maybe probably the most encouraging from Potter’s group to finish a outstanding turnaround on this Champions League marketing campaign.
Source: www.unbiased.co.uk