Chelsea’s Champions League campaign kicked into gear with an emphatic and fully deserved win over AC Milan at Stamford Bridge.
New manager Graham Potter knew victory was essential after a poor start to their group phase with defeat away by Dinamo Zagreb finishing Thomas Tuchel’s reign before a draw at home to Red Bull Salzburg.
And Chelsea delivered in style, with England right-back Reece James the star man as they eventually overpowered Milan.
Wesley Fofana scored his first goal for the club after 24 minutes when Milan failed to clear a corner, although the £70m defender’s night was soon ended by injury.
The Italians almost equalised right on half-time when Rade Krunic fired over with the goal at his mercy.
It was a rare anxious moment and the second half belonged to Chelsea, and James in particular, the right-back demonstrating why he commands such faith at club level and from England manager Gareth Southgate.
James was the provider after 56 minutes when he crossed for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to apply a simple finish, then he was the finisher five minutes later with a powerful strike which flew high past Milan keeper Ciprian Tatarusanu at his near post.
Potter later said: “It was a good night for us. We needed to play well. The attitude and application of the players was fantastic. It was a really important win for us.
“I thought we started off a bit nervous for about five minutes. It was just a result of us wanting to do so well. But then you saw the appetite of the players. We got control of it and had a bit of a threat. The first goal was important. We had to start a little on the back foot in the second half. We suffered a bit which was good and the second goal gave us a breather.
“Clean sheet, three goals. The personality of players was good.”
On Wesley Fofana’s injury, he added: “We’ll have to scan it tomorrow. See how it is. Nothing to report at the moment. The one disappointing thing of the evening.
“It was a good performance from the team overall. Apart from the end of the first half, they didn’t have many chances. It says a lot about how we defended as a unit. It was an important win but still a long way to go in the competition.
“The boys have been really open, responsible, honest and fantastic to work with. They realised they weren’t at the levels. That’s great from a coach’s perspective.”
