Chelsea boss Graham Potter has called for a response from his side against Dinamo Zagreb after their defeat to Brighton at the weekend.
The Blues lost 4-1 against the Seagulls on Saturday, having been on an unbeaten run of nine games prior to their trip to the south coast.
Potter came up against his former club for the first time since he left to join Chelsea, with Brighton serving the head coach his first defeat at the west London side.
Advert
The result now sees Chelsea sit sixth in the Premier League table having failed to win in their last three matches.
Their European form has been better however, with the Blues sealing their progression to the last 16 of the Champions League last week against RB Salzburg.
Potter’s side have also already won Group E of the competition, and will therefore compete in the knockout stages next year.
The result against Brighton at the weekend was poor from a Chelsea perspective, especially considering where it now leaves them in the Premier League table.
Advert
Potter has now called for a reaction to the defeat as they look to get back to winning ways ahead of the next couple of weeks.
Speaking to the media ahead of the home tie against Zagreb, the head coach said: "We have to have respect for the competition and other teams.
“We have to prepare to win, we are at home, we want to finish off well.
“We want to respond from the weekend. We will pick a team we think can win."
Advert
Thomas Tuchel was in charge for the reverse fixture against Zagreb, with the Croatian side sealing a shock 1-0 win.
Potter replaced the German two days after the result, and has since been unbeaten in the competition having not competed in it before his move to Stamford Bridge.
The 47-year-old also commented on the aforementioned match during his pre-match press conference: "No two games are the same.
Advert
“You should never predict what the game will be. We are at home so we need to be the protagonists, try to create and be on the front foot."
Chelsea are still struggling with some injuries within the squid ahead of the match.
Potter has opted to make a few rotational changes to his starting lineups in recent weeks as a result, and could be set to do the same against Zagreb.
He revealed that Kepa Arrizabalaga is unavailable for the tie, but Mateo Kovacic and Kalidou Koulibaly could both make returns.
Topics: Chelsea, Graham Potter, Champions League, Football
Robert Calcutt