Graham Potter, the coach in charge of redirecting the most opulent project that the football industry has known this season, just over 500 million euros in signings, coexists between phlegmatic English humor and drama. “I’m still here,” he smiled at reporters on February 24 after a press conference was delayed due to a meeting in which he allegedly put his future at the helm of Chelsea on the table. A day later, Potter revealed that he had received death threats by email. This weekend the English coach was not calm either. Several London media assured that his continuity depended on beating Leeds, which did happen (1-0), and on coming back this Tuesday (9:00 p.m., MovistarLC) the 1-0 that Borussia Dortmund endorsed him in the first leg of the round of 16 final of the Champions League.
The megalomaniac investment in hiring has not had the expected results. The more than 300 million employees in the winter market to recruit Enzo Fernández, Mudrik, Badiashileas, Madueke or João Félix have only redoubled the pressure on Potter. The fans’ threats to stage demonstrations against him for only having achieved two victories in the last 12 games could become a reality if Chelsea lose to Dortmund. Aware of the inflamed climate he is going through, Potter threw clichés on Monday to reduce the pressure that hangs over his figure. “In the position we are in, you should always be grateful for this pressure. It means that you are in a fantastic position to compete to be among the best eight teams in Europe. I’m just thinking about how important it is for the team and the club to achieve this. We are facing a great adversary and it is a great challenge, but at the same time it is a great opportunity. We are going to give it our all, ”he defended. Given the collapse of the team in the Premier League, it is 11 points from the fourth, Tottenham, the dream of winning the Champions League is the last bullet that seems to remain for Chelsea to be able to participate in the next edition. The economic and reputational disaster would be enormous for the new owner, the American banker Todd Boehly.
The English press has focused on João Félix, whose impact on the team’s game is beginning to be questioned. Potter made a defense of the Portuguese player, on loan from Atlético Madrid until the end of the season: “In attack he is making things happen, he has hit the crossbar twice and has had other opportunities to score. That he can play several times is very good. We have used him more centered, but he can play on either side of the attacking flank. There are no doubts with the quality of him.” For the duel with Dortmund, Potter will not be able to count on Thiago Silva, injured, Mount, suspended and Reece James will be a doubt until the last moment.
Dortmund appears at Stamford Bridge marked as one of the fittest teams in Europe after having won their last ten games. This has allowed him to share the leadership of the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich and to face the game very confident in his fast transition football. “We will have the opportunity to find those spaces that will leave us to conclude the tie”, warns their coach Edin Terzic.
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