 Most of us would look at a run of eight games in which Sterling hadn't scored as a serious problem for one of the premier English attackers around, but then Sterling himself would tell you that he hasn't been playing as an attacker. His recent stints at wing-back have of course largely centred around an attempt to bring a new attacking focus from the position, with Potter hoping it could unlock something in his still very new team, but it has been clear Sterling wasn't enjoying it. Eviscerated by radio pundit and former Chelsea star Pat Nevin at the weekend, here Sterling was thrust into more of an attacking position, and he delivered with Chelsea's equaliser. Potter will hope that the goal is the confidence boost Sterling needs, although he might struggle to put him at wing-back again. Denis Zakaria emerging as an option Zakaria completed 70 minutes on his Chelsea){kind=link}
CHELSEA 2-1 DINAMO ZAGREB: Goals from Raheem Sterling and debutant Denis Zakaria gave Chelsea victory in their final match of the Champions League group stages
Such is modern football, and indeed such is Chelsea, Graham Potter found the heat turned up on his tenure in the wake of the 4-1 defeat at former club Brighton on Saturday.
In just 90 minutes the Englishman’s steady, often impressive start unravelled as he suffered his first defeat in his new role, and that was enough for many to get on his back.
It all meant that Wednesday’s Champions League tie at home to Dinamo Zagreb, a dead rubber with Chelsea already through, took on a more important status than it could have done for the Blues manager, and it ultimately turned into an up and down night for Chelsea as they came from behind to win.
Here’s what went right and wrong for Potter.