Graham Potter opted to make seven changes to the team that defeated AC Milan 3-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Thiago Silva, Raheem Sterling, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Reece James were rested against Wolves giving room for players like Conor Gallagher, Christian Pulisic, and Trevoh Chalobah to start.
Chelsea won the game by 3-0 with goals from Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic, and Armando Broja.
Asked about the reason behind the seven changes, Graham Potter told reporters: “Thiago [Silva] had a heavy cold at the start of the week but played against Milan. Two days to recover is really short for him, so we didn’t want to take the chance there. Ben Chilwell playing three games in a week after recovering from an ACL injury. That wouldn’t have been the smartest thing to do to put him out there, especially when we’ve got Marc Cucurella.
“Reece James had a dead leg that wasn’t fully recovered yesterday, so we wanted to give him a bit of extra time and use him at the back end of the game rather than the start. Obviously, we missed Wesley [Fofana] and Mateo Kovacic. Three games in a week for him would’ve been too much as he had been nursing a knee problem. So, again, we can use Jorginho and Ruben [Loftus-Cheek].
“Raheem [Sterling] has had a load of football this season, so we thought it would be good for him to have a breather and help us at the back end of the game if we needed him. It’s similar to Auba [Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang]. Even though he is in a great moment and forwards rely on rhythm, he hasn’t had that much football previous to coming to Chelsea and has had an injury.
“It felt like today was a good chance to give him a breather, and if we needed him at the back end of the game, we could’ve used him. That was the thinking process.”
Potter also gave credit to his players for stepping up when needed.
“It’s a credit to the players because it’s a good group here. We can’t succeed with just eleven players, and I don’t think it’s right to just keep eleven going until they fall down, get injured, and then we play the next ones. That is not good for the group dynamic. At the same time, I am conscious that if we lose today, you’d have come with me asking why I didn’t play Aubameyang, that is how it is,” Potter added.
“But as long as the reason is there, as long as I know in my head why we’ve made the decision, someone has to take it. Today it’s worked out well, and credit to the players because the group is really together and pushing for each other. It’s important everybody knows we can’t do it with just eleven.”
Quizzed if there was going to be a rotation of the squad until the World Cup, Potter replied: “It won’t necessarily have to be like this. You have to take every situation on its own. But if you’re playing three games a week, going from Champions League and then two days later to Premier League, you have to make a decision around fresh players, players that are determined and desperate to play, there is that aspect.
“We’ve got a good group here. It’s a good squad with lots of competition, and you need people fighting for each other, supporting each other, wanting to play, and being ready to help. We saw that today. Kai [Havertz] scored, Christian [Pulisic] scored, and Armando scored, so that’s really pleasing.”
Chelsea plays AC Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday. A win will increase Chelsea’s chances of progressing to round 16.
