Former Chelsea manager Graham Potter now looks extremely likely to be taking on one of the players he signed at Stamford Bridge in the next round of the World Cup.
Potter’s Sweden side have qualified for the Round of 32 despite being placed in a tough group that also included Netherlands and Japan.
The Englishman is one of four former Chelsea managers at the tournament, with Mauricio Pochettino, Carlo Ancelotti and Thomas Tuchel all set to make the knockout stages too.
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Graham Potter to face Malo Gusto in World Cup Round of 32 clash
For Sweden though, Round of 32 clashes won’t come any harder, with them nearly certain to be facing France in the next round.
The 2022 finalists booked their place in the next round after a flawless group stage, including a 4-1 win over Norway where transfer target Maxence Lacroix impressed.
There is current Chelsea representation in the France squad too, Malo Gusto has made two appearances for his nation in the competition so far.
Potter never got to use Gusto after signing him for Chelsea
The right-back was signed by Chelsea when Potter was the manager of the club, however the terms of the deal saw him remain at Lyon for the rest of that campaign.
Given the fact that the Sweden boss was sacked before the end of the 2022/23 campaign, he never got the chance to manage him at Stamford Bridge.
Gusto stated before he made his debut for the club that he had ‘apprehension’ over joining the Blues, with them just getting into their groove of making mass signings each window.
Things have worked out pretty well for him so far, finding regular minutes as Reece James has continued to struggle with his injury woes.
The Frenchman is now being linked with a move away from the club this summer, after they have reached an agreement to sign Italian wing-back Marco Palestra.
The Blues value him at £75m though, potentially putting off interested parties such as Manchester City as they prioritise other areas on the pitch.
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