Graham Potter says his Chelsea players have produced a “fantastic effort” after bouncing back from defeat in their opening game to advance to the last 16 of the Champions League as group winners with one game to spare.
Dinamo Zagreb’s 4-0 home defeat by AC Milan in the later game on Tuesday means Chelsea cannot be caught at the top of Group E.
The Blues had started their European campaign with a 1-0 defeat in Croatia against Zagreb on 6 September, with the club sacking boss Thomas Tuchel the following day.
They have since responded with three wins and a draw under Potter.
“They’ve picked up points in the Premier League and to go through like we have in the Champions League is a fantastic effort from everybody,” said Potter.
“We will take steps, it will not be a straight road, unfortunately. But we will take steps and tonight was one I think.”
- Champions League: Who is through, who is out and who needs what?
- Reaction from Red Bull Salzburg-Chelsea, plus rest of Tuesday’s Champions League
- Football Daily: Chelsea and Man City top their Champions League groups
- Visit our Chelsea page for all the latest Blues news, analysis and fan views
- You can now get Chelsea news notifications in the BBC Sport app – find out more
‘My parents were here to see me score’
Chelsea remain unbeaten in nine games under Potter, who is without the services of France midfielder N’Golo Kante, French defender Wesley Fofana, England defender Reece James and Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly because of injury.
“We’ve had a lot of games and a little bit of disruption in terms of some key players missing, but credit to the boys they’ve responded really well,” added Potter.
In a breathless game in Austria, Chelsea produced one of their best performances under Potter.
A commanding first-half display saw them take the lead when Austria-born midfielder Kovacic rifled in an unstoppable left-foot finish from 18 yards.
“It’s nice to score in the country where I was born. My parents were here and so were my friends,” Kovacic, who was later withdrawn with a calf issue, told BT Sport.
However, the Blues were frustrated by keeper Philipp Kohn who produced four outstanding saves to keep out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang alone.
Salzburg equalised through Junior Adamu before Jorginho had a header brilliantly cleared off the line by Adamu.
Havertz ensured Chelsea progressed with a sublime curling finish, before Thiago Silva was forced to clear off the line from Strahinja Pavlovic.
Chelsea have 10 points from five games in Group E, three ahead of second-placed AC Milan with one match to go. Salburg have six points and Dinamo Zagreb have four.
By finishing top of their group, Potter’s side will be seeded for the last-16 draw on 7 November.
‘We can rotate’
There were impressive performances all over the pitch as Chelsea dug deep when they came under pressure in the second half after controlling the opening 45 minutes.
Potter is now preparing to return to his former club Brighton on Saturday following one of the strongest performances of his Chelsea reign.
“It’s amazing and fantastic to be involved in the Champions League,” added Potter, who had not managed in the competition before being appointed Chelsea boss.
“It’s a real test against some fantastic teams and a great experience coming to these venues and experiencing an away match in the Champions League. It’s tough and challenging, but I’ve really enjoyed it.”
Chelsea’s final group game is at home to Dinamo Zagreb on 2 November.
Winning the group with one game to spare will allow Potter the option to rest key players for Zagreb before the heavyweight London derby at home to Arsenal on 6 November (12:00).
“We want to win every game we play, that is the mentality we have to have,” said the Chelsea boss.
“We have a game at the weekend and another game the weekend after, so maybe we can rotate a little bit. But we will try our best.”
Player of the match
KovacicMateo Kovacic
with an average of 8.24
FC Red Bull Salzburg
-
Squad number18Player nameKöhn
-
Squad number9Player nameAdamu
-
Squad number70Player nameDedic
-
Squad number39Player nameWöber
-
Squad number31Player namePavlovic
-
Squad number95Player nameBernardo
-
Squad number77Player nameOkafor
-
Squad number13Player nameSeiwald
-
Squad number27Player nameGourna-Douath
-
Squad number14Player nameKjærgaard
-
Squad number21Player nameSucic
-
Squad number30Player nameSesko
-
Squad number17Player nameUlmer
-
Squad number23Player nameSimic
-
Squad number8Player nameKameri
Chelsea
-
Squad number8Player nameKovacic
-
Squad number14Player nameChalobah
-
Squad number29Player nameHavertz
-
Squad number6Player nameThiago Silva
-
Squad number1Player nameArrizabalaga
-
Squad number23Player nameGallagher
-
Squad number10Player namePulisic
-
Squad number32Player nameCucurella
-
Squad number28Player nameAzpilicueta
-
Squad number5Player nameJorginho
-
Squad number18Player nameBroja
-
Squad number12Player nameLoftus-Cheek
-
Squad number19Player nameMount
-
Squad number9Player nameAubameyang
-
Squad number22Player nameZiyech
-
Squad number17Player nameSterling
Line-ups
RB Salzburg
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 18Köhn
- 70Dedic
- 95Bernardo
- 31Pavlovic
- 39WöberSubstituted forUlmerat 78′minutes
- 27Gourna-Douath
- 13Seiwald
- 14Kjærgaard
- 21SucicBooked at 47minsSubstituted forSeskoat 61′minutes
- 77OkaforSubstituted forSimicat 78′minutes
- 9AdamuSubstituted forKameriat 82′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Mantl
- 2Van der Brempt
- 4Piatkowski
- 6Baidoo
- 8Kameri
- 17Ulmer
- 23Simic
- 24Diarra
- 30Sesko
- 33Walke
Chelsea
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1ArrizabalagaBooked at 90mins
- 14Chalobah
- 6Thiago Silva
- 32Cucurella
- 10PulisicSubstituted forAzpilicuetaat 75′minutes
- 5Jorginho
- 8KovacicSubstituted forLoftus-Cheekat 68′minutes
- 17SterlingSubstituted forMountat 88′minutes
- 23GallagherBooked at 86minsSubstituted forZiyechat 88′minutes
- 29Havertz
- 9AubameyangSubstituted forBrojaat 75′minutes
Substitutes
- 12Loftus-Cheek
- 13Bettinelli
- 16Mendy
- 18Broja
- 19Mount
- 20Zakaria
- 21Chilwell
- 22Ziyech
- 28Azpilicueta
- 30Chukwuemeka
- Referee:
- Sandro Schärer
- Attendance:
- 29,520
Live Text
-
Match ends, FC Red Bull Salzburg 1, Chelsea 2.
-
Second Half ends, FC Red Bull Salzburg 1, Chelsea 2.
-
César Azpilicueta (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by Maurits Kjærgaard (FC Red Bull Salzburg).
-
Attempt saved. Jorginho (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by César Azpilicueta.
-
Attempt missed. Kai Havertz (Chelsea) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Mason Mount with a headed pass.
-
Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card.
-
Thiago Silva (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by Roko Simic (FC Red Bull Salzburg).
-
Foul by Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea).
-
Dijon Kameri (FC Red Bull Salzburg) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Attempt saved. Dijon Kameri (FC Red Bull Salzburg) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
-
Attempt blocked. Bernardo (FC Red Bull Salzburg) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Maurits Kjærgaard with a cross.
-
Corner, FC Red Bull Salzburg. Conceded by Trevoh Chalobah.
-
Corner, FC Red Bull Salzburg. Conceded by Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
-
Attempt blocked. Amar Dedic (FC Red Bull Salzburg) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Benjamin Sesko.
-
Substitution, Chelsea. Hakim Ziyech replaces Conor Gallagher.
-
Substitution, Chelsea. Mason Mount replaces Raheem Sterling.
-
Attempt missed. Lucas Gourna-Douath (FC Red Bull Salzburg) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high following a corner.
-
Corner, FC Red Bull Salzburg. Conceded by Marc Cucurella.
- Our coverage of Chelsea is bigger and better than ever before – here’s everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment
- Everything Chelsea – go straight to all the best content
