The head coach was speaking after Jorginho’s spot-kick and a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goal had given his side a second deserved win over AC Milan in a week, putting the Blues’ Champions League group-stage campaign firmly back on track. We now top the group by a point with four games played. Dinamo Zagreb drew at home to Salzburg in the night’s other Group E match.

‘To come here and win is not straightforward, as you can see from the start of the game,’ Potter began.

‘The crowd and the atmosphere were fantastic but overall we played well. The red card changes the complexion of the game but we still have make their 10 men count, which I think we did quite well.

‘It is not straightforward playing against 10 men,’ he added, ‘especially here because any action can lead to a goal and then the crowd would be so into the game again, and it becomes really difficult.


‘I still felt that we could do enough with the 11 v 11 but the referee has made the decision and we have to get on with it.

‘So overall we're delighted with the three points, with the clean sheet, and to score two goals is good.’

Reece James needed to be substituted in the second half…

‘We are hoping Reece will be okay,’ Potter said. ‘It is too early to give anything more than that.’

Aubameyang’s strike gives the striker three goals in his last three outings…

‘We’ve not been doing anything special,’ said the coach. ‘He's just been building his fitness, he came from a difficult summer and the more game time he gets, the stronger he gets. The more we understand him the more he understands us, and then everybody can see his qualities. It looks like he's enjoying his football and scoring goals is important for him.’

Potter finished by assessing the state of the group…

‘We know that we haven't got enough points now so we have to keep going. The next match is Salzburg away which is another tough one but in between we've got some Premier League games and we have to focus on that, then we'll be ready for Salzburg.’