When managers say there are no easy games it's an understandable cliche. For Graham Potter though, it feels appropriate. The new boss has had a tricky start handed to him with a trip to Selhurst Park not exactly at the top of a list many would pick for their first league matches.
In the Champions League, with his first match in charge, Potter could have been dealt a nicer hand too. The match against RB Salzburg was of heightened importance before he was even appointed manager. A home draw to get started was far from the worst result, except that it piled on the pressure for the next two games against AC Milan and gave Potter little room for error.
With back-to-back matches against the Italian champions, and a visit from managerless Wolves sandwiched between, Potter knows that he needs to get his side on a run. And fast. The Blues did actually make it back-to-back league wins after beating Crystal Palace, but there isn't much sense of momentum, yet.
