Champions League: Graham Potter’s Chelsea Beat AC Milan 3-0 At The Stamford Bridge

Graham Potter wheeled around to face his bench as the third of the night came in, clapping even more enthusiastically than usual, his face wreathed in a huge smile. Chelsea beat AC Milan 3-0 at Stamford bridge.

The statement result, the true dawn of a new era, was here. So far, it’s been low-key, with football on hold, then a disappointing draw with Salzburg; another break, then a late win at Crystal Palace, more relief than lift-off. This was unique. Italy’s champions were soundly and deservedly defeated.

This was a result that restored a team’s and its new manager’s dominance. Chelsea were everything they aren’t all the time. Decisive, clinical, and effective. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also scored for the second game in a row. A striker makes all the difference.

Chelsea led at halftime, but it was two goals in six minutes in the second half that saw them take the game away from AC Milan. Both were finished with aplomb, a trait that Chelsea has lacked in recent seasons.

Romelu Lukaku was supposed to be the solution, but he was not. Aubameyang could be.

We know how he tapered off at Arsenal, but it was different at Barcelona, and it could be the same here. In English football, he has a point to prove.

And a commotion about how to do it. Ben Chilwell significantly over hit a cross from the left in the 56th minute, finding Reece James on the right.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, the man Gareth Southgate prefers, took a touch and demonstrated why he is more than just a Liverpool attacking force.

Meanwhile, James was having one of his best games, and in the 62nd minute, a tackle ran fortuitously to Raheem Sterling, who instantly fed James on the overlap.

The cross was there, but James went for it on his own, smashing a shot into the back of the net from a tight angle.

Potter’s smile was ignited by that glorious finish. This was Chelsea’s best performance of the season, possibly their best since beating Real Madrid – despite losing the tie. He needed it, and so did they.

He wasn’t on for long, Wesley Fofana, but he left quite an impression. His first and most important goal for his new club. Chelsea was in big trouble heading into this game.

Bottom of the group, with the most difficult games yet to come. AC Milan is the champions of Italy. Chelsea would have to perform better here after failing against Dinamo Zagreb and RB Salzburg. They succeeded.

Milan looked at their weakest points against set pieces, which helped. Those who question Gareth Southgate’s judgment – a growing number, rightly or wrongly – wonder why he doesn’t give more time to Fikayo Tomori, who is holding his own at the heart of Milan’s defense in Italy.

Perhaps because set pieces are such an important part of England’s armory, and Tomori isn’t the type of soldier who uses them.

He is by no means the only one. Chelsea sent a dead ball into the Milan box three times in a row, and each time the taker picked out Thiago Silva. What was Milan doing, ignoring such an important supply line? In the end, it cost them.

First and foremost, Fofana. He’ll be happy to have scored before limping off after 37 minutes because what came before that crucial intervention was noteworthy for other reasons.

First, Fofana attempted to sweep the ball out from behind but was absolutely nailed in a dangerous position, almost gifting Milan a valuable counter-attack. When Chelsea won a corner soon after, he misjudged his header so badly that the ball ricocheted off the top of his leading arm.

But it was that mishap that revealed Milan’s weakness: the dead ball finding Fofana. The ability to cut these balls into the box would be the deciding factor between these two teams at halftime.

On 23 minutes, Silva’s head met a Mason Mount free-kick, forcing an excellent save from veteran Romanian goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu, who tipped it over the bar.

It was the second time the Chelsea defender had scored. And the third time was a charm. This time it was a Ben Chilwell corner that Silva powerfully headed back across goal, forcing another save from Tatarusanu, who perhaps should have kept hold of it.

Following a massive scramble, several Milan players failed to simply put their ball through the ball.

It fell to Fofana, who slid it into the corner deftly. He enjoys visiting Europe. He only scored once for his previous club, Leicester, and that was against Rennes in the UEFA Conference League. Fofana vanished soon after.

He came out on top in a battle with Milan’s mighty Rafael Leao, tried to continue, couldn’t, and was replaced by Trevoh Chalobah. Milan then had their best offensive spell.

A Leao cross found Charles De Keteleare, who forced the first real save of the night from goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who kept his place despite Edouard Mendy’s return from injury. Rade Krunic received the ball, but his shot was deflected high over the bar.

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Going in level would have been unfair to Chelsea. They had better play and opportunities. Mateo Kovacic found Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who found Mount, forcing a fine save from Tatarusanu in the fifth minute.

Mount also had little luck in the 29th minute, when he ran on to a good chance only to have his shot blocked by Pierre Kalulu.

Tomori, on the other hand, appeared solid enough without reaching the eye-catching heights required to make a compelling case for inclusion in the England team.

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In the 42nd minute, he was booked for dissent after complaining to Dutch referee Danny Makkelie about a foul on Raheem Sterling by Milan teammate Ismael Bennacer. It wasn’t the best decision.