Chelsea manager Graham Potter is looking forward to his second UEFA Champions League game in charge when they host AC Milan at Stamford Bridge tonight.
The Blues have faltered in Europe’s elite club competition this season, failing to win any of their first two group stage fixtures for the first time in 22 years.
Potter replaced Thomas Tuchel in September after Chelsea’s poor start to the campaign, and the Englishman’s first game, a Champions League home clash against RB Salzburg, ended in a draw.
Chelsea have just one point from their first two fixtures and Potter recognises that getting the much-needed win against Milan will not be a walk in the park.
“They’re an absolutely top team,” Potter said as he previewed the match.
“I’ve been really impressed. They have a clear idea of how they want to attack and how they want to defend, with different ways to score. It’s a massive challenge for us, an exciting challenge for us, and one the boys are really looking forward to.
“It’s important to win your home games and that’s what we will try for.
“We have to play well and we have to create a good atmosphere for our supporters to get behind us, that’s our job.
“If you drop your level, sometimes you can get away with it, but against the very best teams, which these teams are, they can punish you. That’s what is exciting about this competition.”
AC Milan have in their ranks two former Chelsea players, Olivier Giroud and Fikayo Tomori, who both left for the San Siro last year.
Giroud played a major role in Milan winning the Serie A title last season and has scored five goals this term, four in the Italian top flight and one in the Champions League.
“Giroud is somebody Chelsea knows well,” Potter noted.
“He is a fantastic player, plays the game in a really good well. He uses his quality, uses his strengths.
“It’s a top team, and we have to be really, really good to get the result we want.”
Milan are on top of Group E with four points, while Chelsea are bottom with one.
Comments are closed.