New manager Graham Potter got his Chelsea tenure off to a nervy start as Raheem Sterling’s opener was cancelled out by Noah Okafor to hold the Blues to a 1-1 draw against RB Salzburg at Stamford Bridge.
The result will do little to ease pressure on Chelsea’s Champions League Group E campaign, as they remain rooted to the foot of the four-team standings after two games played with a severely dented chance of progressing to the competition’s knockout phases.
New boss Potter said after the game he was “frustrated” with the result, and though he was proud of his side’s application, the former Brighton manager is well aware that the expectation at Chelsea is to win.
Chelsea opened their European crusade with a disappointing 1-0 loss to Dinamo Zagreb last week, prompting the sacking of Thomas Tuchel, as he paid the ultimate price for failing to share the new ownership’s long-term vision for Chelsea’s future.
Potter, enjoying his first taste of top-level European club competition, admitted to having never before attended a Champions League match during his official unveiling on Tuesday, let alone occupied top seat in the dugout during one.
Sterling claimed the first goal of the Potter era to put Chelsea ahead in the 48th minute, collecting Mason Mount’s low cross from the right which was erroneously defended by Salzburg’s otherwise impressive rearguard.
The unmarked forward was afforded ample time and space to measure a shot, before cooly bending an effort into the bottom right corner from just inside the 18-yard box – a move that will be equally admired by England boss Gareth Southgate, with Reece James also involved.
But Salzburg equalised with 15 minutes remaining through top scorer Okafor after Thiago Silva was guilty of diving in to a tackle, allowing substitute Junior Adamu to deliver a dangerous low cross. Okafor then applied a first-time finish with the aid of a slight deflection off Cesar Azpilicueta’s outstretched leg.
