Chelsea face Borussia Dortmund in a high-stakes Champions League clash

Stamford Bridge will witness a fierce battle between Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund this evening in the UEFA Champions League, as Chelsea seeks to reverse the 1-0 loss suffered in the first leg in Germany. 

In this upcoming UCL match against Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea is predicted to be the frontrunner to win (51.2%), but the question remains whether this will secure their place in the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund holds a unique record as the only team in the top five European leagues to have won all ten of their matches in 2023. It's worth noting that Kai Havertz has yet to score in all eight of his previous competitive encounters with BVB, making it his poorest record against any club.

Is Graham Potter the correct appointment for Chelsea FC?

Graham Potter, the current manager of Chelsea FC, has been under pressure from fans and the media due to a poor run of results and limited chances of making the top 4. In this article, we will explore Potter's managerial career thus far, his management philosophy, and whether he has what it takes to be a success at Chelsea FC.

Graham Potter began his managerial career at Östersunds FK, a Swedish club playing in the fourth tier of Swedish football at the time. Potter achieved an incredible feat at Östersunds FK, leading the club to three promotions in five years, eventually reaching the Swedish top-flight, Allsvenskan. Potter's Östersunds FK side also made history by becoming the first Swedish team to progress to the knockout stages of a European competition, the UEFA Europa League. Potter's success at Östersunds FK led to his appointment as Swansea City manager in 2018.

Potter's time at Swansea was short-lived, as he spent just one season at the club before moving to Brighton & Hove Albion in 2019. However, his time at Swansea was notable for the way in which he transformed the playing style of the team. Swansea had been known for their possession-based football under previous managers, but Potter introduced a more fluid, attacking style of play. This change in approach earned Potter plaudits, as he guided Swansea to a tenth-place finish in the Championship, despite having a limited budget and losing key players.

At Brighton, Potter continued to implement his philosophy of attractive, possession-based football. Despite a difficult start to his tenure, which saw the team flirting with relegation, Potter overseen steady progress at the club. Brighton had finished 15th and 16th in the Premier League in his two full seasons in charge, and the team finishing sitting in 9th in his last season in the role. Potter's approach has been praised by many, with former England manager Glenn Hoddle describing Brighton's style of play as "a joy to watch."

Potter's management philosophy is based on a desire to create a playing style that is entertaining for fans, while also being effective on the pitch. He values possession, creativity, and tactical flexibility, and he encourages his players to take risks and express themselves on the ball. This approach has led to some memorable performances from his teams, such as Östersunds FK's famous victory over Arsenal in the Europa League, and Brighton's 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in October 2020.

So, would Potter be a success at Chelsea? It is difficult to say. On the one hand, his track record of transforming teams and implementing an attractive style of play is impressive. Chelsea fans would undoubtedly enjoy watching their team play a more expansive, attacking brand of football under Potter. However, managing at a club like Chelsea comes with its own unique challenges. The expectations are high, the pressure is intense, and the squad is packed with talented players who demand success. Potter has not yet managed at a club of Chelsea's stature, and it remains to be seen how he would handle the pressure and scrutiny that comes with the job.

In conclusion, Graham Potter is a talented manager who has achieved success at every club he has managed. His approach to football is refreshing and would undoubtedly be popular with Chelsea fans. However, whether he has what it takes to handle the pressure and expectation that comes with managing a club like Chelsea is unknown. The appointment to sign Graham Potter as Head Coach is a gamble with tonight’s result against Borussia Dortmund being a good indicator on whether he will be a success at Chelsea FC.

Where to watch Chelsea vs Borussia Dortmund

TV channel: In the UK, tonight’s game will be televised live on BT Sport 1, with coverage beginning at 7pm.

Live stream: Subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the BT Sport website and app.