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.
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Along with his biggest match of his Chelsea tenure and maybe his career, until next week, Potter has some big calls to make. After posting a picture of Conor Gallagher on the matchday graphic on Tuesday, that could be seen as a hint that the midfielder will be included from the off against Milan.
After scoring the winner in the last minute with a brilliant strike, his inclusion would be justified. Now Chelsea have given out another potential hint, including four stars on their most recent graphic.
With Reece James, Thiago Silva, Mason Mount and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang all seen on the poster, they could all be in line to start Potter's third match in charge. They all started against Palace and made impacts. James was arguably the best player on the pitch at right-back, Silva provided an assist for Aubameyang's first Chelsea goal and Mount was influential in creating some of the best chances in the game.
The quartet already look to be part of a core of Potter's team and seeing them play against Milan would be no surprise.
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