Potter not ruling out deploying Sterling at wing-back again

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Chelsea boss Graham Potter says he won’t rule out the prospect of Raheem Sterling playing as a right wing-back again despite switching him midway through the first half of the 2-0 win at Aston Villa.

Sterling began the game in the role after Reece James was ruled out with a knee injury that will probably see him miss the World Cup.


But after Ollie Watkins had some success on Sterling’s side of the pitch, Potter switched Ruben Loftus-Cheek to the role and moved Sterling back to a more familiar position in attack.

At half-time, Cesar Azpilicueta was brought on to play at right wing-back after as Potter re-jigged his defence, and the team looked much more comfortable.

Sterling played well as a wing-back in the recent 1-1 draw with RB Salzburg in the Champions League and Potter  suggested he might end up there again.

“It is like anything, you have to look at the balance of the team,” Potter said.

“If you look at what we did, Marc Cucerella was the left centre-back, which can work but didn’t so much today, so we had to adjust those positions bringing Kalidou (Koulibaly) on.

“But I think Raheem can play high and wide in all of those positions, but clearly the balance of the team is something we have to look at and find the right solutions.”