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Football London
Football London
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Bobby Vincent

Graham Potter faces big decision for first Chelsea game with Marc Cucurella question

There are so many questions up in the air now that Graham Potter is the new Chelsea head coach.

The 47-year-old was confirmed as the Blues' new manager on Thursday afternoon on a five-year contract. The news came just over 24 hours after the club relieved Thomas Tuchel from his role.

Potter isn't the biggest or most glamorous name when it comes to managers in the world of football – but strangely enough, that's why he appealed to Chelsea. Todd Boehly and other senior members of the club's board were taken aback by Potter and he is seen as a much better fit than Tuchel in the sporting infrastructure being developed by Chelsea.

READ MORE: Graham Potter will do what Thomas Tuchel couldn't as Chelsea break from Roman Abramovich path

The former Brighton & Hove Albion manager faces some really big decisions now he is the new head coach. He comes in to a dressing room full of talent, but one that is massively underperforming at the moment.

Chelsea spent around £270million on new signings over the summer. The talent is there – no question about it. It's up to Potter and his backroom staff – who he brought with him from Brighton – to try and instil some confidence back into the players.

An area that is definitely underperforming at the moment is Chelsea's back-three. Wesley Fofana was signed on the penultimate day of the summer transfer window for around £70million from Leicester City and the Frenchman has played twice so far for his new club.

On his debut against West Ham United last weekend, the 21-year-old defender put in a solid performance on the right-hand side of a back-three, alongside Thiago Silva in the middle and Kalidou Koulibaly on the left. However, on Tuesday, Fofana was moved into the centre and things did not go to plan for the youngster.

Fofana was beaten on speed for the only goal of the game, but apart from that he looked solid at the back whenever called upon. Usually, though, we're expecting to see Fofana used on the right side of a three, with Silva in the middle.

The Koulibaly role on the left side is an interesting one and definitely something to keep an eye on under Potter. The former Brighton boss used Marc Cucurella on the left-hand side of a back-three on several occasions – and perhaps it's something we're going to see at Chelsea.

It's a way to end the Cucurella and Ben Chilwell conundrum over who starts at left wing-back. Chilwell could be used on the wing with Cucurella tucking in behind him.

There's of course the question regarding Trevoh Chalobah, as well, who Tuchel didn't fancy too much. Chalobah can be used on the right-hand side of a back-three or as the middle centre-back. He's of course got serious competition with Fofana and Silva, but when he does get his opportunities, perhaps in cup games, he needs to seize them. It's a chance to re-galvanise his career at Chelsea.

With Chelsea's match against Fulham, that was meant to be taking place on Saturday afternoon, now postponed following the death of the Queen, Potter now has a bit more time to work with his new players before Wednesday's Champions League clash with Salzburg. He faces some big decisions regarding his team selection for that game, but expect a lot of experimentation in his first weeks in charge at Stamford Bridge.

READ NEXT:

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The one thing Graham Potter needs from Todd Boehly at Chelsea that Thomas Tuchel was not granted

What Graham Potter offers Chelsea: Intelligent pressing, Thomas Tuchel repeat, shape switches

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