Graham Potter left frustrated in first Chelsea match after Salzburg draw

After everything that has gone on over the past week or so, all of the upheaval, sparked by the sacking of Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea needed something here. Graham Potter needed something here. It was the new manager’s first experience of a Champions League tie, a detail to highlight his sudden ascent. It would be a wild night for him.

For most of the second half, it felt as though Raheem Sterling had kickstarted Potter’s tenure. With a roll of his studs to set the ball and a swish of his right boot, the winger found the far corner of the Red Bull Salzburg net and Chelsea could sense a similar ignition point for their Champions League campaign – following the trauma of the defeat at Dinamo Zagreb.

Salzburg had other ideas. As Potter directed his players in new shapes, it was a battle for cohesion and the sucker punch would arrive. Thiago Silva had been a case study in how to defend, a model of composure, hearing praise from the home support. Then he erred.

The ball was his to win on the left-hand side of the Chelsea defence only he mistimed his challenge on the substitute, Junior Adamu, and Salzburg were in. Adamu crossed low, Noah Okafor made his move and his shot deflected in off César Azpilicueta. Chelsea tried to rally but their late push came to nothing. For Potter, there was only frustration.

It had been impossible to escape the subdued atmosphere that clung to the spectacle in the countdown to kick-off; the music slow and doleful, the union jacks hanging behind one of the goals. “RIP Your Majesty,” read a banner.

It was a pair of Chelsea pensioners who emerged first from the tunnel to lay wreaths and there were loud renditions of God Save The Queen from both ends – in the absence of Uefa allowing the national anthem