Chelsea and Graham Potter backed for success after 'huge' Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund

ByRob Hemingway

Updated 08/03/2023 at 09:20 GMT

Chelsea's players have been urged by Rio Ferdinand to "suck this feeling up" after their stunning comeback 2-1 aggregate win over Borussia Dortmund that saw them qualify for the last eight of the Champions League. Graham Potter has struggled to gel his team in 2023, but beating Dortmund in such a manner "could turn everything around for them", added Owen Hargreaves.

Chelsea and Graham Potter have been backed to turn their season around by BT Sport's pundits after their momentous Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund.

The Blues and their beleaguered boss have limped through the start of 2023, with goalscoring a particular problem.

But they scored twice for the first time this year to secure a comeback 2-1 aggregate victory to make the quarter-finals of Europe's elite competition, doing so against arguably the continent's most in-form club.

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Speaking pitchside at a thronging Stamford Bridge, Rio Ferdinand said: "Leading into this game, the last few months, these players - not only the manager, the manager's been under a lot of pressure - the players as well, being criticised.

"A lot of these players have been used to success, been used to being called greats and good players.

"But they've had a period of time where the finger's being pointed at them - 'what are you going to do'.

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"And this is a moment today - and you can sense it with the players with the smiles on their faces - [that shows] what this means to this club and the individuals as well.

"They've got to take this on now, suck this feeling up, take it in the changing-room and let it continue."

Ex-Chelsea winger Joe Cole was one of those players for whom success was commonplace during his time at the club, and he felt this could be a "huge" moment in their evolution under Potter.

"Enjoy it," Cole began.

"There's huge pressure to play for any top club but in particular Chelsea over the years because you know - under the last regime - you lose two or three, four games, the manager will be out of the door, the new manager might not like you.

"So you're never comfortable. No one at this club has ever been comfortable, no players.

"It's a huge moment for Chelsea. You won't want to be playing Chelsea over the next couple of weeks."

Owen Hargreaves, a veteran of two Champions League title wins with Bayern Munich and Manchester United, added: "Football's a rollercoaster.

Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea celebrates with teammates after Raheem Sterling ( Obscured ) scores the team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg two match between Chelsea FC and Borussia Dortmund at Stamford Bridge on March 07, 2023.

Image credit: Getty Images

"This is a huge moment for Chelsea, they've had a difficult season. This could turn everything around for them."

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