Chelsea boss Potter explains Sterling role

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Graham Potter said he deployed Raheem Sterling in a wing-back role against RB Salzburg because the Austrian champions are so strong through the middle.

Potter, in his first game as Chelsea boss, selected Sterling on the left flank and Reece James on the right at Stamford Bridge, where the Blues drew 1-1 in their second Champions League group match.

Sterling scored the opening goal and was often Chelsea’s most advanced player, with Marc Cucurella essentially taking on the role of an auxiliary left-back.


“It was a back three with Reece and Raheem giving us the width,” Potter explained.

“Salzburg are very strong in the middle, so it’s not easy to play through the middle of the pitch.

“So I wanted to get some dangerous width and Reece and Raheem were that. I thought we got Raheem into some good situations and Reece as well.

“You don’t want Raheem defending in his box too often and I don’t think he did. I think Marc Cucurella managed the situation quite well.

“We’re at home and we wanted to be on the front foot and have some attacking ideas in those wide positions.

“Raheem is really good at attacking the back line. He scored a fantastic goal and I thought he was really good in the game.

“Reece balances it us off a bit so we can still defend as a four when we need to. So that was the thinking.”

Coming after the recent defeat by Dinamo Zagreb, Wednesday’s result was a major disappointment and left Chelsea with work to do in the group.

“We’re frustrated that we’ve just got a point,” Potter admitted.

“I thought the application of the players was fantastic. I really enjoyed how they went about their work.

“But in the end we needed the second goal and it didn’t come, so we’re disappointed with the one point.”