Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League encounter against Austrian giants FC Salzburg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night is set to go ahead as planned, it has been revealed.
It has been an uncertain time following the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday afternoon last week, with football activities ranging from the top-flight to the grassroots level in the UK all postponed as a mark of respect.
Uncertainty still clouds this weekend’s league fixtures with major concerns about staging events safely on the eve of the Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, as a result of police deployment in the capital and beyond.
However, Chelsea’s midweek clash against the Austrian outfit in Group E in the Champions League will go ahead.
As reported by Simon Stoney, UEFA are satisfied that all security aspects will be met and the European clash will go ahead.
It will see Graham Potter take charge of his first game as Chelsea head coach following his appointment on Thursday last week.
He was due to front the media on Friday for the first time, but the presser was cancelled out of respect for the nation’s mourning of Queen Elizabeth II – who had passed away a day earlier.
Potter took charge of training for the first time on Friday and will prepare his charges for their first game under the 47-year-old on Wednesday.
In his only address since taking the reins at Stamford Bridge, Potter said: “I am incredibly proud and excited to represent Chelsea FC, this fantastic football club.
“I am very excited to partner with Chelsea’s new ownership group and look forward to meeting and working with the exciting group of players and to develop a team and culture that our amazing fans can be proud of.”
Chelsea will be looking to earn their first points in this season’s UCL campaign, following their 1-0 opening-day defeat on Matchday One to Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia, which saw Thomas Tuchel’s time at the club come to an end after 19 months.
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