Chelsea could have misplaced to Dortmund on Wednesday, however this was one among their higher performances below Graham Potter. The Blues ripped off 21 pictures for an xG of two.13 in comparison with Dortmund’s 1.41, even turning up the warmth to create loads of possibilities within the second half. But working into goalkeeper Gregor Kobel in type, the one quantity that issues is the 1-0 benefit to Dortmund on the rating sheet forward of subsequent month’s second leg. Most groups would have the ability to take an ethical victory from this efficiency however with Chelsea’s latest type, do ethical victories below Potter matter anymore?
He was anticipated to have rising pains within the function however after being appointed in September, Potter has had time to instill a few of his concepts within the squad. The board has additionally backed him closely within the switch market however sooner or later returns are additionally anticipated on that funding. On one hand, the truth that Joao Felix hit the publish twice will give them confidence within the second leg however the Black and Yellow additionally did not must get out of first gear for a lot of the match exterior of Karim Adeyemi’s counterattack purpose and Kobel’s protection.
Finding new methods to not put the ball at the back of the online is a typical situation for Chelsea and one that’s solely capitalized by their restricted decisions in registering their new signings for Champions League play. Only Enzo Fernandez, Joao Felix, and Mykailo Mudryk have been registered for the completion when David Dataro Fofana has been their solely new signing that’s considerably of a real quantity 9. Chelsea have scored simply 5 targets of their final 9 video games, failing to file a number of targets in a sport even as soon as in 2023.
Forfana is uncooked at solely 20 however throwing him into the sport late to interchange Kai Havertz when Dortmund’s protection was permitting possibilities left and proper however wasn’t an choice. That’s not Potter’s fault that Chelsea made eight winter signings however might solely register three for Champions League play however it does present the blended priorities of the board which can be supposedly backing Potter throughout his struggles thus far.
It can be totally different if not scoring targets was a brand new situation for Potter and even Chelsea however the fixed has been Kai Havertz’s presence within the assault. Even Hakim Zyech’s inclusion after he was virtually bought to PSG has been a little bit of a head-scratcher however for as a lot depth as Chelsea has in some areas, it is a skinny squad the place it issues most.
Even their greatest performer, Fernandez, seemingly ought to’ve taken a tactical foul on Adeyemi’s purpose figuring out that Mudryk was overwhelmed by the run. Now they face an uphill battle within the second leg.
Mudryk has had his flashes however he solely took one shot and created two possibilities within the match whereas failing to make an impression. It appears like Chelsea are taking part in a simulation sport the place it is okay that the expertise would not actually match however it’s anticipated to win matches resulting from having a bonus over true groups. Instead, it has led to a group that has only one purpose within the final 386 minutes.
There are actual monetary implications for the membership if they can not get previous Dortmund within the spherical of 16, which solely worsen when it is thought of that it’s also unlikely the membership qualify for Champions League by way of the league. If they can not herald sufficient cash to cowl all of the additions to the group, what wouldn’t it imply for Potter’s possibilities to steer the membership sooner or later?
Moral victories solely work for groups which can be performing effectively whereas in Chelsea’s case, they will make morale worse across the squad. Players can really feel like they need to’ve received every of their final 4 matches however in actuality, they solely received three factors from these and do not have somebody they will play to provide Havertz a bodily and psychological break. It’s as much as Potter to push his squad by way of this however the subsequent few months may not be type to them. Southampton is up subsequent and whereas it must be a straightforward match, the Saints are preventing for his or her Premier League lives and can give Chelsea bother if the Blues cannot rating targets.
Potter seemingly will not be let go earlier than the house leg versus Dortmund on March seventh, but when the Blues cannot rating targets between at times, they may go crashing out.
