Sterling Gets First Goal Since September in Big England Boost as Potter Forgets Brighton Nightmare
- 2 years ago
GRAHAM POTTER turned to his ultimate Z-lister to end the Champions League group stage on a high note.
Denis Zakaria was finally allowed out on pitch for a memorable debut in which he scored the winner to clinch Chelsea’s comeback.
However, Ben Chilwell's World Cup dream may be over after pulling up with a hamstring injury at the end of the game.
The England international was clearly in some pain and had to be carried off by medical staff after the game.
Switzerland midfielder Zakaria was signed on loan from Juventus on deadline day in the summer and has sat on his hands ever since.
But in last night’s final Champions League group game and with Chelsea already assured of top spot, the forgotten man of Stamford Bridge received a long-awaited call up.
It would be stretching a point to claim Zakaria turned in a match winning performance. But he popped up when needed to see off stubborn Zagreb with a scuffed goal after half an hour.
The shot took a slight deflection off a defender on the way over the line but Chelsea boss Graham Potter won’t care.
And it was the clear the goal meant a lot as he was mobbed by team-mates who ruffled his hair.
When he hobbled off with 19 minutes to go, Zakaria was treated to a standing ovation from fans in the Stamford Bridge West Stand, acutely aware of how frustrated the player must have been in recent weeks.
With a World Cup around the corner, any game time is precious to players now and Zakaria played his part in his side’s win last night.
For a game with nothing to play for except pride and restoring confidence Potter went for it with his line up: A strong starting XI with the exception of forgotten man Zakaria.
Clearly last night’s game was an exercise in running Saturday’s 4-1 pummelling at Brighton out of the system and yet another experiment with the formation from the new Tinkerman.
A back four and a front two comprising Raheem Sterling and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, sandwiching a midfield diamond.
And for a time it looked as if this latest reworking of the tactics was going to backfire like it did at the Amex Stadium at the weekend.
Dinamo Zagreb took a shock lead in the eighth minute. The third time in the last four games Chelsea have gone behind.
A right wing cross from right back Sadegh Moharrami dipped at the far post and cannoned back across the box off the back of Cesar Azpilicueta’s head.
Zagreb striker Bruno Petkovic was in the clear to power home a header from six yards.
Returning keeper Edouard Mendy had no hope of keeping it out and the defence which shipped four goals four days previously gifted the opposition another goal.
Potter has never had such a quantity of quality players at his disposal in his managerial career.
Maybe it is the embarrassment of riches that he finds confusing? Like a spoilt kid on Christmas Day who doesn’t know which expensive present to play with first.
Denis Zakaria was finally allowed out on pitch for a memorable debut in which he scored the winner to clinch Chelsea’s comeback.
However, Ben Chilwell's World Cup dream may be over after pulling up with a hamstring injury at the end of the game.
The England international was clearly in some pain and had to be carried off by medical staff after the game.
Switzerland midfielder Zakaria was signed on loan from Juventus on deadline day in the summer and has sat on his hands ever since.
But in last night’s final Champions League group game and with Chelsea already assured of top spot, the forgotten man of Stamford Bridge received a long-awaited call up.
It would be stretching a point to claim Zakaria turned in a match winning performance. But he popped up when needed to see off stubborn Zagreb with a scuffed goal after half an hour.
The shot took a slight deflection off a defender on the way over the line but Chelsea boss Graham Potter won’t care.
And it was the clear the goal meant a lot as he was mobbed by team-mates who ruffled his hair.
When he hobbled off with 19 minutes to go, Zakaria was treated to a standing ovation from fans in the Stamford Bridge West Stand, acutely aware of how frustrated the player must have been in recent weeks.
With a World Cup around the corner, any game time is precious to players now and Zakaria played his part in his side’s win last night.
For a game with nothing to play for except pride and restoring confidence Potter went for it with his line up: A strong starting XI with the exception of forgotten man Zakaria.
Clearly last night’s game was an exercise in running Saturday’s 4-1 pummelling at Brighton out of the system and yet another experiment with the formation from the new Tinkerman.
A back four and a front two comprising Raheem Sterling and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, sandwiching a midfield diamond.
And for a time it looked as if this latest reworking of the tactics was going to backfire like it did at the Amex Stadium at the weekend.
Dinamo Zagreb took a shock lead in the eighth minute. The third time in the last four games Chelsea have gone behind.
A right wing cross from right back Sadegh Moharrami dipped at the far post and cannoned back across the box off the back of Cesar Azpilicueta’s head.
Zagreb striker Bruno Petkovic was in the clear to power home a header from six yards.
Returning keeper Edouard Mendy had no hope of keeping it out and the defence which shipped four goals four days previously gifted the opposition another goal.
Potter has never had such a quantity of quality players at his disposal in his managerial career.
Maybe it is the embarrassment of riches that he finds confusing? Like a spoilt kid on Christmas Day who doesn’t know which expensive present to play with first.