Potter showed he is a 'big manager' in win over Dortmund – Havertz

‘We are 100 per cent behind him’: Kai Havertz leaps to Graham Potter’s defence and insists Chelsea’s win over Borussia Dortmund shows he IS a ‘big manager’ as he takes a swipe at pundits in England who ‘think they know better than him’

  • Chelsea are into the Champions League quarter-finals after beating Dortmund
  • The 2-0 win came as welcome relief to Potter with his future hanging by a thread
  • Havertz claims Blues stars already knew he is up to the task behind the scenes

Kai Havertz heaped praise on Graham Potter after Chelsea’s win over Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night, claiming the result proved he is a ‘big manager’ while taking aim at pundits who ‘think they know better than him’. 

Chelsea lifted significant pressure from Potter’s shoulders by producing the most impressive performance of his reign so far against Dortmund, fighting back from a goal down on aggregate to come out on top in their Champions League last-16 tie.

After losing last month’s first leg 1-0, Raheem Sterling’s opener and a controversial Havertz penalty – which saw the German retake and score a second spot-kick due to encroachment after he hit the post with his first effort – saw the Blues recover and book their place in the quarter-finals on a joyous night at Stamford Bridge.

The victory comes as a major boost for Potter, whose future as head coach was hanging by a thread following a miserable run of two wins in 12 games and one goal scored from open play in seven.

Many have questioned whether the former Brighton boss is cut out for such a high-pressured, elite-level job at Chelsea, but Havertz insists the squad were already convinced he is up to the task behind the scenes.  

Kai Havertz heaped praise on Graham Potter after Chelsea’s win over Borussia Dortmund

Havertz fired home the winner from the penalty spot as Chelsea saw off Dortmund in the Champions League last 16

The victory came as a huge boost for Potter, whose future as head coach was in the balance

He told beIN SPORTS after the victory: ‘Yeah of course we know that the pressure is coming at him, but you can see that he is a big manager because in the media, I cannot even believe how many people have to talk [about] him.

‘We have hundreds of coaches in England, they think they know better than him. But we know in the changing room that he is a big personality, a big manager for us and he helps us all a lot – me included.

‘So we are 100 per cent behind him, even though the people maybe don’t see it, but I think now today everyone saw that he’s a big manager.’ 

While their hopes of a top-four Premier League finish are all but over down in 10th, advancing to the last eight of the Champions League comes as a welcome relief to Potter and keeps Chelsea’s season alive.

The spirit, energy and quality on show in Tuesday’s win will raise hopes of a strong run in this year’s competition, with the quarter-final draw to come next Friday.

And Potter couldn’t contain his delight after his biggest moment as head coach so far, admitting the victory means a lot given the ‘tough period’ of recent months.

‘I’m not sure [how I’m feeling]! There is a lot of emotion in the end. It was tense in the end but the boys played fantastic. I am delighted for them to get the win and great for everyone here,’ he said.

‘There was a fantastic feeling in the dressing room. We have been through a tough period and this competition means a lot for us. We wanted to progress and get into the last eight and it sets us up for the next few weeks.

Havertz believes Potter proved himself a ‘big manager’ in their comeback win on Tuesday

Potter couldn’t contain his delight after reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League

‘It is great for the boys, two wins, two clean sheets after a tough period. You get that in life and it is about how you respond and the players have been fantastic.’ 

Next up for Potter and Co is a Premier League trip to Leicester on Saturday, before they discover their quarter-final opponents in the Champions League next Friday.

Benfica are in the draw after their resounding 5-1 win against Club Brugge on Tuesday, with Bayern Munich vs PSG (1-0) and Tottenham vs AC Milan (0-1) to come on Wednesday night.

Next weekend’s second legs will see Manchester City host RB Leipzig (1-1) and Liverpool go away to Real Madrid (5-2), while Porto vs Inter Milan (0-1) and Napoli vs Eintracht Frankfurt (2-0) are also in store.

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