Potter reveals penalty concern despite Chelsea’s Champions League progress

FOOTBALL Potter reveals penalty concern despite Chelsea’s Champions League progress

Kiplagat Sang • 10:35 - 08.03.2023

The Blues sealed a place in the last eight after a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund.

Chelsea manager Graham Potter has expressed his dissatisfaction with the manner in which Kai Havertz took his penalty against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night.

Potter’s concern comes even though the Blues overcame a first-leg deficit against Dortmund and progressed to the Champions League quarterfinals.

Raheem Sterling – beat Dortmund goalkeeper Alexander Meyer after initially fluffing his shot – to score the opener in the 43rd minute. The second goal came from the spot kick, a decision that Dortmund protested against.

After a VAR check, Marius Wolf was adjudged to have handled the ball from Ben Chilwell’s cross. Havertz took the spot kick and hit the post, but the German was ordered to retake his penalty.

"I watched the first penalty and it didn't work so well. I can't do anything. It's down to Kai and his talent and testament, and that's at the top level," Potter said in his post-match reaction, per BBC Sport.

However, the English manager was ecstatic about the performance of his players and the support from the fans.

"To win a game and go into the last eight of the Champions League, it's up there with one of the games or evenings of my career. The players were tremendous, and the supporters were tremendous.," he added.

"We had to be against a team that was doing so well. Over the two games, I felt that we deserved to go through. It was a special night."

Potter has been under immense pressure for the club's poor performances despite heavy transfer investment.

However, the pressure subsided following a Premier League win over Leeds United on Saturday.

The progress into the last eight is also a huge relief for the former Brighton & Hove Albion tactician.