The English winger has sent a message to Chelsea’s attacking players ahead of a much-needed international break for Graham Potter and his teammates.
Raheem Sterling has sent a warning-type message to Chelsea attacking duo Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kai Havertz after recent UEFA Champions League performances.
The Blues suffered the same fate under new manager Graham Potter in Europe as a lack of clinical edge up top has seen the two-time winners placed at rock bottom of Group E after the latest RB Salzburg draw. Sterling opened the scoring just after half-time as he picked his spot following a pass across the box from Mason Mount that was dummied by new signing Aubameyang before the former Man City man did the rest.
But despite the domination, Aubameyang and others like Hakim Ziyech missed big chances to seal the deal and win by more than one goal. Unfortunately, this didn’t happen, and Noah Okafor’s equalizer meant the Austrian Champions remain above their hosts for this game week two clash heading into the doubleheader in match weeks three and four. “It was definitely a frustrating result. With how we played, the chances we created, one chance they got a goal. It’s a bad result in the end, but I thought we played some good football at times,” he told in-house media post-match.
“I believe we should have won because we dominated the game.” There were some good moments to reflect on, but it’s a game we need to finish. We only needed to finish the game.
“It was a patient game where we got some chances, and then I took them.” But we must complete the task. I felt we were in command after one chance and one goal [for FC Salzburg]. It is one that we can just keep going and progressing with the new manager.”
For the first game under new manager Potter’s new management system, Chelsea’s number 17 played a slightly different role. In this game, the 27-year-old played a hybrid winger/wing-back role, as opposed to the more streamlined attacking position occupied by Thomas Tuchel in previous games inching the Dinamo Zagreb defeat.
Despite the unconventional nature of such a position, the £47.5million man admitted that he had no issues with the tactical change and believes that time will be on his side in this regard.
He added: “I played in a slightly different role under the new manager, and it is one I enjoyed playing, out wide. Over time, I will get better.
“I am happy to play along the front line, but he wanted me out wide, getting at the full-back, getting in the box, and creating chances. The more time under him [Potter], I think the better it will be for us.”
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