Chelsea 2-0 Borussia Dortmund (agg 2-1): Graham Potter enjoys finest night as Blues boss

1 year ago 46

Graham Potter reacts during Chelsea's crippled with Borussia Dortmund

Graham Potter gazed astatine the level arsenic Kai Havertz stepped guardant successful the infinitesimal that had the capableness to merchandise the unit valve that has been tightening connected Chelsea's manager.

Potter's Chelsea were charged with turning astir Borussia Dortmund's 1-0 pb from the archetypal limb of this Champions League last-16 necktie and Raheem Sterling's first-half extremity enactment them halfway there.

Here, however, was Havertz lasting implicit a re-taken punishment with hostility astatine specified a boiling constituent astir Stamford Bridge that Potter simply could not carnivore to ticker arsenic the German stepped forward.

The thunderous roars and the bearhugs from his backroom unit delivered the bully quality and Chelsea went connected to adjacent retired a triumph that was, without question, the finest nighttime of Potter's troubled clip astatine Stamford Bridge.

Make nary mistake, the 47-year-old has not lone struggled to person galore Chelsea fans of his suitability to tackle this occasionally dysfunctional shot beast but has besides felt the fierce vigor of their disapproval since helium arrived from Brighton to win Champions League victor Thomas Tuchel successful September.

Potter faced a perchance defining week lone months into his reign aft a location decision by strugglers Southampton and different distant astatine Tottenham turned up the measurement connected whispers astir his future.

Chelsea's caller proprietor Todd Boehly, whose singular spending spree lone added to the unit and expectations surrounding Potter, has ever insisted helium was sticking by his manager but immoderate slips astatine location to Leeds United and past Borussia Dortmund would person enactment that religion to the severest test.

Instead, a scrambled triumph implicit Leeds was followed by Chelsea's champion show nether Potter and now, with a Champions League quarter-final to look guardant to, astatine slightest immoderate of the clouds person rolled away.

Chelsea players observe scoring against Borussia Dortmund

And for Potter, helium volition anticipation this nighttime and the celebrations that followed it connected and disconnected the transportation volition beryllium a launchpad for stableness and betterment arsenic good arsenic the all-important transportation with Chelsea's fans.

Potter has been criticised for being excessively passive arsenic Chelsea manager - his calm demeanour connected the touchline portrayed arsenic him being immoderate benignant of brushed touch, thing helium understandably denied with a passion.

This was a antithetic Potter. A antithetic Chelsea.

In the archetypal fewer minutes helium was windmilling his arms to get Chelsea's fans down their squad and helium was animated throughout. Passive? Not here.

And astatine the last whistle, Potter's beaming look illuminated Stamford Bridge arsenic helium marched towards the Matthew Harding Stand earlier delivering rousing fist pumps successful the mode usually associated with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

Potter past blew kisses towards the stands arsenic the frustrations and uncertainties of caller weeks were transformed into an outpouring of joy.

And proprietor Boehly, whose riches person bankrolled this seemingly money-no-object caller Chelsea era, looked down connected it each with what appeared to beryllium a substance of elation and relief.

Chelsea's 2 location wins volition not nonstop each the troubles floating distant but this Champions League triumph volition bash wonders erstwhile measured successful however supporters consciousness astir their manager. These are the benignant of victories that boost the credibility and bargain time.

There is inactive a desperately mediocre Premier League placing of 10th to beryllium addressed and it inactive appears that Chelsea whitethorn person to triumph the Champions League to play successful the competitions adjacent season. Odds against, but Chelsea person done unusual things successful the Champions League before.

Chelsea looked astatine location with the outstanding brace of Reece James and Ben Chilwell performing heroically successful defence and arsenic an attacking menace - the second besides making Potter's erstwhile Brighton subordinate Marc Cucurella look much comfy than helium has connected galore occasions.

And determination was nary uncertainty Chelsea's players were performing for their manager arsenic they tore into tackles from the archetypal whistle, a play which besides included an outstanding prevention from keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga arsenic helium dived to prevention a free-kick from Marco Reus.

Potter and Chelsea indispensable present currency successful connected this abrupt surge of momentum due to the fact that the doubts volition resurface if they revert to their much mean signifier of this play astatine struggling Leicester City connected Saturday.

This was the benignant of nighttime Potter had successful caput erstwhile helium exchanged the stableness and calm advancement helium oversaw astatine Brighton for what tin beryllium the madness of Chelsea - namely scenes of solemnisation astir Stamford Bridge aft a landmark Champions League win.

Now Potter has had the sensation helium volition privation much and anticipation the aforesaid applies to his re-invigorated Chelsea players.

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