‘All the right buttons are being pressed’ – Rio Ferdinand hails Graham Potter for playing these seven Chelsea players in 3-0 win over Milan
Rio Ferdinand, a former player for Manchester United, praised Graham Potter for selecting “seven young English players” for Chelsea’s excellent 3-0 victory over AC Milan in the Champions League.
The last goal was scored by Reece James, Gareth Southgate’s favoured right defender, who also gave Milan difficulties all night long with his link-up play with Raheem Sterling and Mason Mount.
With Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ben Chilwell, Conor Gallagher, Trevoh Chalobah, James, Mount, and Sterling all entering the game, the English quality on the field increased.
However, Potter’s team entered the match under pressure after dropping their initial UCL match, but they are currently second in the group on goal differential and seem much more at ease.
Speaking on BT Sport, Ferdinand said: ‘There is a lot of pressure as they haven’t started well. At home you have to get the points and they were even able to make subs.
‘Potter has seven young English players on the pitch which bodes well and all the right buttons are being pressed. Momentum is key and there is something in the crowd right now. It’s a step in the right direction.
‘There is a connection between players and fans again. The manager or captain may have seen something. The gulf in class between Italian and English football, it goes in cycles.’
Meanwhile, Fellow pundit Joe Cole added: ‘The number of English players with an English coach at a top side bodes well. That was so routine. To do that to them shows it’s the right direction.’
The Blues will next play in the Champions League at the San Siro next week, where Milan will have to be a lot better than they were at Stamford Bridge if they are to get anything out of the game.