3 Things Potter got wrong vs Brighton and must resolve at Chelsea

Chelsea were embarrassed at Amex Stadium by head coach Graham Potter’s former team Brighton & Hove Albion. But what did the Englishman get wrong in his latest approach after a fine start in his new job?

3-0 down at halftime following two own-goals against a team not challenging for the Premier League title, is unacceptable for CFC. That scoreline would be bad versus Manchester United, Liverpool or Arsenal. But at Brighton, who happen to be the gaffer’s old side, it is an unavoidably disastrous afternoon.

General system and formation

The last occasion in which the man in charge began a game with a four-man defence was against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League. CFC were triumphant by a three-goal margin in that encounter, by the way. Why wasn’t a 4-3-3 or a similar setup employed versus the Seagulls? That choice may well have been preferable to three centrebacks in this instance.

Potter must be aware that Roberto De Zerbi was due a win at Amex after some great BHAFC play during a few unlucky outings in clashes with good sides. The entertaining draw at Liverpool, a narrow loss to Tottenham Hotspur and a decent showing in the fixture with the magnificent Manchester City. In addition to that, De Zerbi has been deploying 4-2-3-1 formations, or ones of that ilk, and did the same before coming to the English top-flight.