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Graham Potter explains why he subbed off Kai Havertz and Marc Cucurella at half-time in Chelsea’s win.
Chelsea football manager Graham Potter discusses why he took Kai Havertz and Marc Cucurella off at halftime in Chelsea’s victory.
In Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa, Graham Potter claims his choice to make a double replacement at halftime was solely tactical. He was thrilled with the results of his changes.
The Blues took an early lead at Villa Park on Sunday as a woeful header from Tyrone Mings allowed Mason Mount to stroke the ball past Emi Martinez, with the midfielder doubling the score – and wrapping up all three points – with a devilish free-kick in the second half.
Despite the straightforward result, The Blues had to deal with a lot of pressure, especially in the opening period. Kepa Arrizabalaga kept his team ahead with a series of excellent saves.
Potter decided to mix things up at the half-time break, taking off Marc Cucurella and Kai Havertz and replacing them with Kalidou Koulibaly and Cesar Azpilicueta as he switched to a flat back five.
That was no slight on the performances of Cucurella and Havertz, though, with Potter feeling that the side needed to tighten up at the back and in midfield.
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Asked about the changes, Potter told ChelseaTV after the game: ‘It was more tactically.
‘I thought we had to probably be a back five, more so, and be a bit stronger in the midfield area so we just had to adjust it. Sometimes [changes] go for you, sometimes they don’t. Credit to the players, they’re all ready to fight, they’re all ready to help the team.
‘So we’re in a good moment at the moment, but we know there’s another game coming.’
Conor Gallagher and Jorginho were both brought to strengthen Chelsea’s midfield as part of Potter’s two more substitutions, which came to either side of the hour mark.
With Gallagher in particular providing energy and bite, that pair enabled the west Londoners to finish the game in a pretty calm manner, and Potter was happy to see his substitutions have an impact.
Asked how good it was to see the likes of Jorginho and Gallagher contribute, Potter replied: ‘Yeah exactly, that’s what we speak about all the time.
‘Everybody wants to start, but sometimes it’s the ones who finish [the game] who are important. As I said, we’ve got another game on Wednesday, they come thick and fast, we need everybody. I’m pleased with the way the group is responding to that challenge, we’re in a good place and it’s important that whoever comes onto the pitch is ready to help the team.’