Potter’s not afraid to mix it with his stars

GRAHAM POTTER rang the changes – and then warned his Chelsea stars not to take their first-team places for granted.

The Blues chief swapped seven of players who had romped to a comfortable midweek success in the Champions League over AC Milan as they chalked up a 3-0 victory over struggling Wolves.

The new boss cited a combination of workload, niggling injuries and rehabilitation issues for omitting Pierreemerick Aubameyang and Co and said that his squad will have to get used to the rotation.

He said: “I don’t think we can succeed with just 11 players. I don’t think it’s right to keep 11 going until they fall down and get injured and then we play the next ones.

“That’s not good for the group dynamic. At the same time I’m conscious that if we lose you’ll come at me with, ‘Why didn’t you play Aubameyang?’ That’s how it is.

“As long as the reason is there and as long as it’s clear in my head, someone has to take it. Today it’s worked out well and that’s credit to them. They are pushing for each other. It’s important that everyone knows we can’t do it with just 11.

“It’s part of the deal in coming to a club like this that you have to fight to get into the team, you have to fight to play your role.

“As a head coach all you can do is communicate the reasons why and admit that you are not always right.

“We’re doing it with good intentions.

“It’s important we have a strong collective because I believe it’s really difficult to achieve anything without that.”

Managerless Wolves are now expected to sit down with Julen Lopetegui in the coming days. The former Spain chief was sacked from his position with Sevilla last week. It remains to be seen whether he has the drive to take on a relegation battle.

Interim boss Steve Davis praised veteran striker

Diego Costa, who risked the wrath of his new fans by high-fiving Chelsea supporters in the Matthew Harding Stand as he made his way around the pitch after being substituted.

Davis said: “I didn’t see it. I don’t know anything about that so I’m not sure what he was doing. I’m not too concerned.

“However, he’s crucial to us. He’s a top player and crucial to what we are doing.

“We’ve got to get him in the box and make sure he’s more dangerous than he currently is.

“We don’t want to push him too hard because if he gets injured, we have no one to play at the top.

“We’re conscious of that and cautious.”