Chelsea 2 (2) vs. (1) 0 Borussia Dortmund Champions League Round of 16 2nd Leg Review
Chelsea Football Club did not disappoint!
Chelsea welcomed Borussia Dortmund to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night for the second leg of the Round of 16 tie in the Champions League. Dortmund had won their last 10 games on the trot in all comps and had a goal advantage heading into the game. There was no preview for this game because I otherwise preoccupied the previous night. Terzic made a few changes to his lineup with Haller coming in to the team.
Graham Potter stuck with three at the back for this game but brought Cucurella back into the starting XI in place of Badiashile who isn’t available for the Champions League. Kepa started in goal with Fofana and Koulibaly making up the rest of the back three. Reece James returned alongside Ben Chilwell as the wing-backs. Kovacic and Enzo started in midfield with a front three of Felix, Havertz and Sterling. Potter went with the lineup he trusted and on a night when everyone had to play their socks off and Stamford Bridge was bouncing, they all delivered.
Dortmund were forced into an early change in the fifth minute as Brandt had to come off for Reyna. Dortmund came close with a free kick early on but Kepa made a top save to keep Reus at bay. Havertz then went close with a volley but his shot hit the post and went out for a goal kick. It looked like it would yet again be one of those days for Chelsea. Sterling was then sent through on goal and he cut it back for Havertz who curled it into the top corner with his left foot but Sterling was fractionally offside. Dortmund were holding on and defending with their life but the goal finally came in the 43rd minute. Havertz did brilliantly to hold onto the ball and drive forward. He back heeled it to Kovacic who played in Chilwell who found Sterling. Sterling fluffed his initial shot but got a second chance and smashed the ball into the net to give Chelsea the lead. The goal right before half time was just what Chelsea needed.
Chelsea started the second half well and Chilwell sent a ball into the box that was handled. After consulting VAR a penalty was given but Havertz missed it. For once luck was on Chelsea’s side and the penalty was retaken after players had encroached the penalty box. Havertz did not miss this time and Chelsea had a two goal advantage. Bellingham came close to getting a goal and Kepa had to make a few good saves but Chelsea were quite comfortable for much of the second half. Gallagher, Loftus-Cheek, Zakaria, and Pulisic all made an appearance off the bench to help see Chelsea through to the quarter-finals!.
Chelsea Team Review
Goalkeeper
Kepa was brilliant once again and he is yet again showing his great character. Through all the ups and downs Kepa has always stayed professional and now under Potter he is once again receiving trust from a manager like he did under Tuchel as well. The Spaniard has risen to being one of the captains of the team and it looks like that money spent on his release clause in 2018 was well worth it.
Defenders
Fofana has returned from injury and is putting in performances that merit the fee we paid for him. Koulibaly struggled but he is yet another player who Potter took out of the limelight and brought back in. The Senegalese was shaky at times but marshalled the defence well in Silva’s absence. Cucurella was named man of the match and it was well deserved. Potter took him out of the squad let alone the lineup after he has been struggling with problems on and off the pitch. Boehly must have been a happy man because against Dortmund we saw the Cucurella that played for Brighton. Aggressive, progressive with plenty of pace and an eye the pass he was all action and it was brilliant.
Reece James didn’t have too many opportunities to maraud forward but he was solid and put in a good performance. Chilwell was another man of the match contender as he took on the role of the more progressive wing-back. He seems to getting better with each game and he was crucial to both goals. Technically he has three assists in three games and he has been missed for sure. A clean sheet for all involved and it looks like a settled defence with Badiashile and Cucurella swapping from time to time. Chalobah, Azpilicueta and Silva provide plenty of competition as well.
Midfielders
Enzo was class alongside Kovacic and we are going to add Kante to this midfield for the next round. Gallagher came on to help press from the front and protect the two goal lead and he did a good job once again. He isn’t the most flashy player but the guy can run for days. Ruben and Zakaria also came on for similar reasons to help see out the win.
Forwards
Felix was ok. I think he can do more on the ball and be more consistent with his passing and decision making but he has the quality and showed moments. Sterling wasn’t brilliant either but he gave it his all and got the crucial goal to get Chelsea back into the tie. The standout performer for me though was Havertz. King Kai remembered it was a Champions League night and he turned up. His hold up play, his positional sense, his passing, his dribbling, his finishing. All were just top class. Genuinely so happy for him because he does play out of position and he himself has said he isn’t 20 goal player but he puts in the shift. The composure to miss the first penalty and slot in the second, that takes real nerves. His embrace with Potter at the end showed the confidence that he has in the German. Just a bit more consistency and Kai would truly be one of the best young players out there. It was good to see Pulisic get minutes off the bench as he continues to gain fitness.
Manager
Potter passes test no 2 and is now in a position where a lot of the fans at least the ones within Stamford Bridge are like ok lets see what you can do. He was passionate on the touchline and his celebrations with each player showed that they are with him. He trusts them and the players seem to be repaying that trust. Guess that psych degree is coming in handy. Lots of work to do though and if Potter is not out of the woods yet, but reaching the quarter-finals in your first ever season in the Champions League is not a bad achievement at all.
So, Chelsea are into the quarters and for once things are looking on the up. Stamford Bridge was rocking the fans, the players and Potter were in sync and it seems like a lot of good work was done on the night to mend relations. Boehly was happy and his patience in Potter paid dividends as far as the last two games go. Beating Leicester is the next task and building on this momentum. If we don’t do that then none of it is worth it. COME ON CHELSEA!!!
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