Champions League: All to Play for in Group E

Chelsea vs AC Milan

Graham Potter’s first game as Chelsea manager last month was a Champions League encounter which ended in a 1-1 draw against Salzburg.

It was hardly the result the west London faithful were hoping for after the harsh sacking of Thomas Tuchel.

More tellingly, after Tuchel’s final game proved to be a 1-0 loss to Dinamo Zagreb, it meant the 2021 European champions had made their worst start to the tournament since 1999.

Now they need some serious Champions League highlights against the Italian champions to get back on track.

Talking Points

For what it’s worth, I think they will get them.

Partly because AC Milan’s medical resources are currently being stretched to the limit with Theo Hernandez, goalkeeper Mike Maignan, veteran Zlatan Ibrahimovic, new signing Divock Origi (close to a return), Junior Messias and Alessandro Florenzi all out at the moment.

In addition, boss Stefano Pioli also witnessed Simon Kjaer, Alexis Saelemaekers and Davide Calabria come off injured during their dramatic late Serie A weekend victory over Empoli; the two defenders both sustained hamstring issues while Saelemaekers suffered a sprain to the knee.

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That means Pioli may have to turn to youngsters to make up a full squad for the trip to Stamford Bridge.

Now Chelsea aren’t exactly at full strength themselves and are expected to be without goalkeeper Edouard Mendy (knee) and the influential N’Golo Kante (thigh), while Marc Cucurella and youngster Carney Chukwuemeka will need assessing after missing their weekend victory over Crystal Palace, also secured at the death, due to illness.

Italian midfielder Jorginho sustained a knock at Selhurst Park and is also a doubt.

However, despite all that, the English club has a much deeper squad to select from and this will give the hosts the edge in my opinion.

This is a meeting of two sides who seemed worlds apart when I was growing up.

For so long, Milan were the best, most attractive team in Europe and then, when new money arrived in the game, Chelsea became a destination that was as attractive for many of those who had previously plied their trade in Europe’s top clubs – the most notable move for me saw Marcel Desailly turn out for the Blues just four years after being imperious in Milan’s 1994 Champions League triumph.

Fast forward to 2022, and Milan have just won a Champions League match at the San Siro for the first time in nine years and the Rossoneri now tend to sign players who are deemed surplus to requirements in the capital rather than the other way round.

Indeed, one of Milan’s current stars, Rafael Leao, has been strongly linked with a switch to Chelsea in recent months.

Rafael Leao scored a goal in AC Milan's last match before taking on Chelsea in the Champions League — Rafael Leao during AC Milan’s game against Sampdoria

Milan are also looking to end a European hoodoo on English turf with their last win in England coming against Manchester United in February 2005.

Not since March 2010 have Chelsea suffered defeat at home to Italian opposition in Europe – losing 1-0 to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan – and the hosts have gone eight games at Stamford Bridge without defeat, although that should be caveated by the fact they have also failed to keep a clean sheet in as many matches in all competitions.

As things stand, Chelsea sit rock bottom of Group E with just one point to their name, but Milan are only three points clear at this early stage of proceedings, despite topping the group.

It’s certainly all to play for on Wednesday night.