The Champions League last-16 second legs take place this week as Chelsea host Dortmund on at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea Online News:
Will Chelsea FC deliver Graham Potter?
Most important talking points from a top game as the vital second legs of the Champions League last-16 round of matches begin.
Graham Potter pledged to “look into everything” in an effort to break the troubling trend that had seen Chelsea win just once in 2023 prior to the tense 1-0 victory against Leeds on Saturday.
With just two goals in seven games across all competitions, Wesley Fofana’s powerful header was his team’s first home goal since January 15 and only second overall.
The result covered up the performance’s flaws, but Potter will hope he has found a temporary replacement for Thiago Silva after the Brazilian’s knee ligament injury. In January and February, Potter kept three straight clean sheets.
But it was unconvincing, the only thing that mattered was stopping the rot. It has given Potter more time when there is still no convincing evidence that the £315 million worth of players he signed in January are coming together as a solid group.
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Chelsea‘s best chance of making the Champions League for the following season would seem to be by winning the competition, given they are now 11 points off fourth place in the Premier League. For Potter, it’s make or break.
The owners’ formerly unshakable backing for the manager’s long-term success has started to change.
Chelsea must enhance their terrible track record of catching up after going behind. They must exhibit character at this point.
Potter’s team has lost its last nine games in which it has let up the opening goal, and after falling behind 1-0 early in the second half of Tottenham‘s 2-0 victory at the end of last month, the club’s confidence was clearly shaken.
Chelsea must now demonstrate that they have begun to turn the wheel and that there is no attitude issue, but all momentum will be lost if Borussia Dortmund knocks them out of Europe.
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