Chelsea win first game in 2023; Potter expresses relief

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By Martin Graham | 5th Mar 2023

Chelsea manager Graham Potter has expressed relief after his side won their first match of 2023 on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League.

Having seen their team go without a win in 11 games, Chelsea fans expected more of the same uninspiring football that they had endured for the first two months of 2023 when they trooped to Stamford Bridge to watch Potter’s men take on a resurgent Leeds United.

The visitors would secure a first half point but the returning Wesley Fofana would score the only goal of the game in the 53rd minute to hand Chelsea the win and all three points.

A wave of relief washed over the stadium at the final whistle and Potter, who had felt the most pressure in the run up to the game, expressed his happiness to be able to finally get off the mark in 2023.

It was the first of two matches that was reportedly crucial to the 47-year-old’s future as Chelsea boss – the second being their second leg UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie against Borussia Dortmund, who will come to London with a 1 – 0 advantage.

The former Brighton and Hove Albion manager called it a massive win and stated that the team would be more buoyed as they prepare for Dortmund on Tuesday.

“It [the feeling after winning] is better than the opposite, that’s for sure,” he began. “I’m delighted for the players and I’m delighted for the supporters because they are the most important people at the football club. People care. Players want to win and supporters want us to do well.

“If you don’t get results it is my responsibility. I accept that. It’s been a tough period for us all and it’s nice to go home with a win. It’s good for confidence and morale.

“Now we have to prepare for a really exciting game on Tuesday night which I’m sure will be a fantastic occasion and we will try and win. It is [massive]. We’ve had to suffer. The boys have been suffering because they care, they do. Our supporters have been suffering. It’s been a challenging period.”

Fofana’s goal was the club’s first home goal since January and also their first goal in five matches. The young Frenchman, who missed out on the 2022 FIFA World Cup silver medal due to injury, rose highest to power home a Ben Chilwell corner to send Stamford Bridge into a frenzy.

Potter praised his 22-year-old match winner for his resilience to battle and come back from his tough injury spell and put on a performance like he did against Leeds.

“Wesley Fofana has been a big miss for us,” Potter said. “He’s one of the players who has been out for a while. He is physical, brave with the ball and does what he does well in the box which is attack the ball. It gave us a win.”

Then he added: “1-0 in the Premier League, anything can happen, when you consider the run we’re on, it’s not surprising [there were nerves]. The players fought for the win and it allows us to keep moving forward.”