Enzo Fernandez praised Graham Potter for masterminding Chelsea’s Champions League comeback against Borussia Dortmund.
Chelsea beat Dortmund 2-0 at Stamford Bridge last night to turn their last-16 tie around and give Potter some breathing space following a difficult few weeks.
Potter got his team selection and tactics spot on, and a controversial second-half penalty from Kai Havertz secured his future at Stamford Bridge for now.
Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly was pictured hugging Potter after he went into the dressing room after the game, and the Chelsea head coach savoured what he said was one of the best nights of his career.
Fernandez hailed the gameplan devised by Potter and said: “We’re going to be staying on this path and we hope things carry on improving.
“It was a great plan from our coaches for the game. We had trust that the team could do it. We had more people running in behind and many people working at the back. We just had to do our jobs and follow that plan.”
Marc Cucurella produced a brilliant display after being brought into the team as a left-sided centre-back, and Kalidou Koulibaly was a rock at the heart of the three-man defence.
Chelsea went more direct to use the speed of Havertz and Raheem Sterling in behind the Dortmund backline, while Joao Felix dropped deeper to cause the Germans problems and wing-backs Ben Chilwell and Reece James provided fresh impetus to their attack.
An emotional Potter celebrated with his players on the pitch after a win that eases the pressure on him.
Dortmund were furious and Jude Bellingham described the decision by Dutch referee Danny Makkelie to give Chelsea a crucial penalty retake as “a joke”.
Havertz was allowed to retake his penalty following encroachment by Dortmund players.
Bellingham said: “For every penalty, especially when he has such a slow run-up, there are going to be people encroaching in the box by a yard or so. But that’s the game.”
