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How Graham Potter will take Chelsea back to the top
Three wins in 4 games for Chelsea, and the Graham Potter era is off to a great start. Here is why we think he’ll take Chelsea back to the top.
Three wins in 4 games for Chelsea, and the Graham Potter era is off to a great start.
The opening draw in his first game in charge was a bit of a concern, but the ex-Brighton manager seems to have started where Thomas Tuchel left off.
The milestone win against AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League and his first Premier League win at the Bridge excited all the Chelsea fans and everyone purchasing Chelsea tickets.
The side came back after trailing to win against Crystal Palace, and the win was followed up by an easy 3-0 win against AC Milan.
Following the win against Milan, it feels like the new manager is making it work for the side after weeks of uncertainty. There were several concerns about how long it would take Potter to get Chelsea to play to his rhythm, but it has not taken too long.
The icing on the cake was the 3-0 win against the Wolves. In an evening where Chelsea dominated all avenues, the only worry for the Blues’ manager would be that they could’ve scored more than three.
The score read 1-0 at halftime, and goals from Christian Pulisic and Armando Broja brought the critical three points for the team as they finished 3-0.
Making himself known
All who had already purchased Chelsea tickets were disappointed to see Tuchel part ways with the club but were equally excited to have Potter with them, considering his track record over the last few years.
Potter started getting the team in the right shape, and between the two Premier League games, he brought in seven changes. The inclusion of Conor Gallagher from the loan was crucial as he scored the winner against Crystal Palace.
The 47-year-old is now seeing the depth of his squad to understand the capabilities in January and February. To do this, he left Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Raheem Sterling on the bench for the Wolves game.
Instead of the experienced duo, he wanted to bring Armando Broja and 18-year-old Carney Chukwuemeka for his first Premier League appearance. And his gamble worked to quite an extent.
Every junior player waits patiently for their chances in the first team, and they understand that these chances don’t come too often and are eager to perform when they do. This is what happened, and Broja eventually ended up scoring the third for the Blues against Chelsea.
He understands that the senior players expect to play every week, and he has the challenge of picking 11 out of a squad of 20. “How you react to that as a group is really important.”
When quizzed on how he handles expectations, Potter prioritized communication as the key concern.
“All you can do is communicate as honestly as you can.”
Chelsea has a massive campaign ahead of themselves, including their UEFA Champions League redemption plan and what Potter is currently doing is within reason. Chelsea knows they have the key players in the big games, but the manager is doing right now to build as many contingency plans as possible regarding injuries.
Strategic Masterclass
Potter’s strategy amused all Chelsea tickets holders at Stamford Bridge. He uses the team like a chameleon, changing and disguising itself from the prey. This was obvious in every game he’s fielded a side with Chelsea, where opposition coaches are constantly scrambling to figure out the formation he’s on.
Against RB Salzburg, Chelsea went with 3-4-2-1. The game was a statement that Potter is not afraid to make big decisions such as dropping Wesley Fofana Kalidou Koulibaly – the £ 104million’s worth of centre-backs they signed in the summer window.
Instead of the duo, he cleverly implemented the two full-backs on either side of Thiago Silva at the back, helping him get extra bodies down the flank.
Next came Crystal Palace, and there was a sudden change once again as Chelsea changed to a 4-2-2-2, with a midfield box. Jorginjo and Kovacic in the front, and Mount and Kai Havertz formed the second.
The box also changed shape to form a diamond with Jorginho at the base. This troubled the Crystal Palace strategy- who were planning for the 3-4-2-1 strategy that Potter deployed in the earlier game. The constant change of shape made it difficult for Palace to take control.
Soon after, Chelsea brought in a much more compact 3-4-3 for their Champions League game, with Fofana and Koulibaly back into the fold on either side of Silva.
That amounts to three games with three different styles of play, each tailored by a specialist goalscorer like Aubameyang. The style also has an anchor on the opposite side with the likes of defensive expert Thiago Silva.
The two are key for Potter’s continued success at Chelsea, and the changes showcase an ability to change formations to combat the opposition better.
Broja – has a great future ahead of him!
After a successful spell at Southampton, scoring six goals in 32 appearances, Albania cap Broja saw him having a decent start at Chelsea with a fine finish against the Wolves.
Replacing Mason Mount, Broja scored the final goal for the side and clearly indicated to the manager that he was a prospect for a starting number. The regulars with Chelsea tickets know that the 21-year-old was associated with Chelsea since 2020 and is a talented lad, deprived of game time.
But with Potter, this could change.
After the game, the youngster added that he had been waiting for his first goal for a long time.
“It’s unreal – I’ve been waiting for my first goal. It’s a surreal moment.”
What amuses everyone on Broja is that he comes in and puts in 110% to the team and is also a selfless individual.
With more than six weeks of action remaining in the Premier League before the FIFA World Cup 2022, Chelsea tickets are running out like crazy. Most of this demand is with the revival tale knitted with Graham Potter, but trusted reseller platforms should help every fan quickly get Chelsea tickets.