Potter’s Chelsea make statement vs Milan: 3 lessons learned

Chelsea show adaptability under pressure

With a nearly even spread in possession, and passes completed on both sides, the Potter-led Blues attacked when the chances came their way. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is showing flashes of finding a new home in west London, scoring in consecutive matches, as he attempts to deliver in ways Chelsea’s previous No.9 could not. Mason Mount is bound to score his first goal of the season, nearly doing it twice before being denied by the offside flag, and a sensational block by the Milan defense. Once the Blues snatched possession away from the defending Serie A champions, everything was going forward, and with Raheem Sterling, and James creating danger on the flanks the speed at which the Blues countered looked to be too quick for an unprepared Milan side.

Aubameyang continued to work Milan’s backline out of position with his movement off the ball. With all the pressure that was on Chelsea’s third Champions League contest of the season, Potter’s side was moving as free as ever. Just 38 minutes into the match, Wesley Fofana was forced off the pitch due to injury, and the often overlooked 23-year-old centerback, Trevoh Chalobah came on for a seamless transition. There was no fear in Chalobah’s eyes, and while he has only played in two matches this season before Wednesday night, it takes a lot for someone to come on in a big moment and execute against one of the best young attacking players in world football when he has not been asked to for quite some time.

In just his fourth Champions League match of his career, the English defender subbed on for one of the club’s biggest signings of the transfer window, and held his ground, giving Potter even more confidence if Fofana does miss significant time. Other than that one breakdown in the back, the Blues were able to overcome the quality that is Rafael Leao, an injury to one of their defenders in the first half, and moments where it did not see the majority of the ball. The Blues may encounter a new look side at San Siro in less than a week’s time, but what this contest is that wherever is thrown Chelsea’s way, Potter has his team ready to take it head-on.