When a new coach comes in there is an expectation that the recent past is quickly forgotten. There is a clean slate, we revert back to zero, good and bad reputations wiped clean and the new coach has a desire to use fresh eyes on his new group.
This has its pros and cons. We do not know yet how much of the past will be informing Graham Potter has he prepares to name his first Chelsea line-up against RB Salzburg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
One of the key decisions early on will be who starts in goal? It was one of the debating points before the final game of the Thomas Tuchel era against Dinamo Zagreb.
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Kepa Arrizabalga was given the nod, although it became clear before the game that Edouard Mendy had suffered an injury setback to rule him out of the Champions League opener. It is unclear whether this call will be made for Potter should the Senegal shot-stopper not be fit for the visit of Salzburg in midweek, but in the longer term, it is a legitimate question.
When Potter arrived at Brighton in 2019, he initially stuck with Mat Ryan, an experienced Australian international who had helped the Seagulls stay up the previous season and was well regarded at the club. But soon Robert Sanchez, who had come through the club's academy after joining from Levante in 2013, usurped him.
He made his debut under Potter in February 2020 before taking over from Ryan as first-choice in the 2020/21 campaign, noted for his superior ability on the ball, an essential attribute in a team who wants to control possession.
“Robert has the potential to be anything,” Potter said in 2021. “He can play in any team in the world; he’s that high level. His physicality is amazing, his shot-stopping is amazing, he can come for crosses, he’s good with the ball at his feet. He has got everything he needs to be a top goalkeeper; the only thing he lacks is games."
Sanchez's importance to Brighton's build-up was most obviously demonstrated in one of their most aesthetically pleasing goals from last season against Manchester United. The third, in the eye-catching demolition of an abject United at the AMEX, gave a glimpse of the sort of progressive play Potter will be attempting to craft at Chelsea.
The move itself was massively aided by the passive defence and lack of structure from United, but it still remains a strong demonstration of Potter's principles. The goalkeeper is involved in the distribution and build-up, wingbacks push up high, and you get late runners beyond the ball from central areas.
Out of Potter's two options at Chelsea, Kepa, seems the more suited to this style of play, given he was brought in under Maurizio Sarri in 2018 in large part due to his comfort in possession. But there are other flaws that have led Kepa to his position as an understudy to the £22m Mendy.
Although people will point to Mendy's awkward moments on the ball, most seen against Brendan Aaronson that gifted Leeds their opener in the Blues' 3-0 defeat at Elland Road, his hand in the Champions League winning goal can easily be overlooked.
Mendy has the physical dominance inside the box in front of the smaller Kepa, who has struggled to command his area with set pieces and deal with shots from distance.
Mendy has been under scrutiny so far this season for his shot-stopping and decision-making and how this change in coach affects him and Arrizabalaga under Potter will be informative over what the new Chelsea coach values between the sticks.
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