Champions League

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Champions League | Group Stage

Oct 5, 2022 at 8pm UK

Stamford Bridge

Chelsea
3 - 0
AC Milan

Fofana (24'), Aubameyang (56'), James (61')
Kovacic (39'), Silva (71')

FT(HT: 1-0)

Krunic (8'), Ballo-Toure (14'), Tomori (42')

Graham Potter: 'Kalidou Koulibaly can become important player at Chelsea'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 04 October 2022

Potter: 'Koulibaly can become important player at Chelsea'

Head coach Graham Potter feels that Kalidou Koulibaly can become an important player at Chelsea, despite failing to feature since his arrival last month.

Head coach Graham Potter says that he expects defender Kalidou Koulibaly to eventually prove his worth at Chelsea.

During the summer transfer window, the Blues were praised for pulling off the signing of the Napoli man, who was regarded as a like-for-like replacement for Antonio Rudiger.

Despite a sending off against Leeds United, the 31-year-old remained as first choice while Thomas Tuchel was in charge, making a total of six starts in all competitions.

However, since the German's departure, the Senegal international has not played a single minute of football in Potter's first three games in charge.

Koulibaly is not expected to receive an immediate recall when Chelsea play host to AC Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

Chelsea head coach Graham Potter in the dugout against Crystal Palace on October 1, 2022. © Reuters

Nevertheless, speaking at a press conference ahead of the meeting with the Serie A champions, Potter revealed that he had been left pleased with the player's reaction behind the scenes.

Speaking to reporters, Potter said: "Firstly, I have been really impressed with him. As a person, he is honest, he understands his situation in terms of that he has had to wait a little bit to play, which every player will say that they aren't so happy with, but it is how you respond.

"His response has been fantastic, very hard working, very honest, trained really well. I think he has come from a club and country where he was familiar with and comfortable in, and making the step into the Premier League is not so easy, and things have changed at the club.

"So it is not the perfect situation for him, but he is a top player, top person, so with that character, he will play an important for us."

Kalidou Koulibaly in action for Chelsea on August 6, 2022 © Reuters

During the recent international break, Koulibaly was quizzed on his current difficulties at Stamford Bridge, stating that he had faith in his ability to regain a spot in the backline.

On September 24, he told Le Quotidien: "It's up to me to be patient, it's up to me to show that I deserve to play, to show in training that the coach can trust me.

"Compared to this, there will be no problem. We are also in the first weeks, it is normal for the coach to rely on players who are used to the emblem of Chelsea and who have been there for a very long time. When I will be at 100%, there will be no problem, I will play again."

Koulibaly possesses a contract at Chelsea until the end of the 2025-26 campaign, with the club having the option to extend those terms by a further 12 months.