Graham Potter began his Chelsea tenure with a draw against Red Bull Salzburg, leaving his side with an uphill task to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
On his competitive debut, the former Brighton boss selected Raheem Sterling as an advanced wing-back but saw the gamble pay off when the forward slotted into the bottom corner shortly after the break.
It was a much better performance than Chelsea’s defeat by Dinamo Zagreb in their opening Group E game last week, which spelled the end for former manager Thomas Tuchel.
But Matthias Jaissle’s well-drilled Austria side found an equalizer on 75 minutes when Thiago Silva missed a tackle, allowing Noah Okafor to clip in Junior Adamo’s low cross.
The goal highlighted the dangers inherent in Potter’s positive approach, with Sterling and Mark Cuccorella out of position. But the hosts could have sealed victory when Reece James scored from a free-kick and substitute Hakeem Zech almost hit the back post.
After AC Milan’s 3-1 win over Zagreb earlier, Chelsea are bottom of Group E after two games with the Serie A champions next at Stamford Bridge on October 5.
Potter Ball represents risks and rewards.
Potter was appointed six days earlier, and after what he called a “whirlwind” week, got his first taste of Champions League football, a competition he had never seen before in the flesh.
Just three years in the Premier League with Brighton have raised questions about his credentials. And although it was a positive display from his side and they wasted a number of good chances late on and Armando Bruja also scored, he will now realize that Chelsea’s poor start to the season has left him quickly in Europe. Things have to turn around.
The 47-year-old, who was spotted at Stamford Bridge in a black suit, observed a minute’s silence to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II, promptly leaving Wesley Fofana, Kalidou Koulibaly and Ben Chilwell out of the squad. He left his mark on the team. The side that lost at Dinamo Zagreb last week.
It saw Silva and Cucorella form a back three with Cesar Azpilicueta, but the biggest surprise was seeing Sterling at left-back in a 3-4-3 formation.
It could have been too easy, though, as the forward stood on the pitch for the most part and twice missed good chances at the back post in the first half.
Both teams came closest to scoring within a minute of each other before the break. Mason Mount sliced ​​a shot inches wide of the post after another deep run and cross from Cucurella, before Benjamin Cisco had an effort curled around the post by Kepa Arrizabalaga as Sterling cleared the ball away. .
But the England international made up for the mistake and showed why he was still on the pitch three minutes after the break.
James started down the right with a powerful run and fed Mount, whose low cross was miscontrolled by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Fortunately, Sterling took a measured touch before finding the inside of the post for his fourth of the season.
At this stage Chelsea started to control the game and it looked like they would increase their lead.
However, Salzburg’s desire to play in the half was thwarted when both Sterling and Cukurella were brought down near the halfway line, paving the way for an equaliser.
Once the ball was played wide to Silva, he looked as if he would close down Adamo and avert the danger.
But missing the usually reliable Brazilian tackle, Okafor added to the goals scored against AC Milan in Salzburg’s draw last week.
Chelsea had plenty of chances to retake the lead as Potter made five substitutions in search of a goal.
But after Zech and Bruja, the Austrian champions were useless.
