Peter Crouch and Joe Cole impressed by new Potter’s tactical tweak

Chelsea fans react to Thomas Tuchel sacking

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BT Sport pundits Peter Crouch and Joe Cole appeared to enjoy the tactical change that Graham Potter made in his first match as Chelsea boss during their 1-1 draw vs RB Salzburg in the Champions League. Raheem Sterling scored the Blues’ only goal from a new role, which the two ex-pros pointed out may give the England man a boost under his new boss.

Sterling operated in a slightly different position, as Chelsea lined up in a three-at-the-back formation against the Austrian side with the former Manchester City winger very wide on the left and Marc Cucurella at left centre-back. Potter got the best out of Leandro Trossard in the same position at Brighton, and Sterling found himself in plenty of room to curl his strike past the goalkeeper due to the change in position.

“He [Sterling] has been outstanding,” Cole said on BT Sport. “He is playing that Trossard role, what he did for Brighton, where he is playing high and wide. He is reversing out, stretching the pitch and making it big. He is in acres of space.

“Him coming out allows [Mateo] Kovacic to make the run in there [into the box], he has got this [ability to run into the box] which is where a full-back hasn’t got. It’s not a left wing-back Crouchy, he is a left forward isn’t he?”

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Crouch replied: “Yeah that’s the thing you can’t pigeonhole it, it’s three-at-the-back obviously and you would say on paper he would be a left wing-back but he is far higher, and I think he is going to get more space here.

“I am not sure, I thought he might be unhappy with it because he wants to be within the sticks scoring goals but the way he is playing tonight doesn’t look like it, he has been magnificent.”

Both pundits did question how Sterling would have received the news that he was playing in a different role, having been one of the bright sparks to start the season for ex-boss Thomas Tuchel having been the only Chelsea player to score more than once this season.

“I think initially he would have been ‘What, me? Wing-back?’,” Cole added. “But the system and way of playing and the methodology explained to him, he is going to get so many opportunities to score.”

Sterling connected with Cucurella on several occasions down the left flank, which former Liverpool striker Crouch noted. “He looked like an old-school winger at times,” Crouch said. “Getting one-on-one, taking little touches and getting crosses in, coming inside and getting shots off. I think it could really suit him and I think he has also got a good relationship with Cucurella down that side.”

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