Chelsea - Dortmund: Turn the situation around
* Chelsea - Dortmund: 3am on Wednesday, 8/3 Hanoi time.
Karim Adeyemi's super product helps the German team take advantage of this match. Not only in terms of the score, Dortmund is also more appreciated in terms of performance. Edin Terzic's teachers and students have won 10 matches in all competitions since the 2022 World Cup, the latest being the 2-1 victory over RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, where they are second but equal in points and only behind Bayern in goal difference.
In the last six years, Dortmund has only reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League once in the 2020-2021 season, but is full of hopes to do so against a Chelsea that has not yet found light under Graham Potter. The Stamford Bridge team has just ended a six-match winless streak when they beat Leeds 1-0 in the Premier League thanks to Wesley Fofana's only goal.
Chelsea had to do everything to protect their slim advantage in that game, including defending against crosses from opponents over the last 20 minutes. That's a far cry from the position they used to show in front of the lower teams, partly showing how much confidence Potter's teachers and students lack.
The victory over Leeds was not enough for Potter to dispel the pressure and criticism directed at him. But the 47-year-old leader can regain the trust of the fans if he takes Chelsea to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, the arena where his predecessor Thomas Tuchel was crowned in the 2020-2021 season, thereby building a foothold. at Stamford Bridge.
Potter is quite patient with tactical experiments, and wants to bring something new to Chelsea compared to the Tuchel era. He preferred to use four defenders instead of three. But that tactic has not worked, and has caused Chelsea to receive painful defeats recently despite having more possession and finishing. After five consecutive 4-2-3-1 matches, Potter used a 3-4-3 formation against Leeds and obtained positive results.
In the pre-match press conference, the former Brighton coach hinted at the possibility of continuing for Chelsea to play three central defenders. He said: "I think Chelsea seem more solid when they play three central defenders. Of course, all tactical changes are not as simple as we say to each other. We have players who are often absent due to injuries. , so it was difficult for the team to achieve the desired consistency But that did not stop us from trying.As you can see in the first half against Leeds, Chelsea attacked more effectively and balanced. That's something the team needs to improve. ".
Chelsea is still rated higher in terms of squad quality, but Dortmund has the mental advantage. Their sublimation in 2023 has been attributed to an impressive run of away form, with five consecutive wins away from home in the Bundesliga, scoring nine goals and conceding just twice in those matches.
But the problem that Terzic and his students have to solve in the Champions League will be more unpredictable. This is a tournament where psychological factors can be reversed in an instant and bravery at key moments is what can decide a match. Since November 2020, Dortmund have never kept a clean sheet away from home in the Champions League, a statistic that shows that the German team is not good at enduring pressure.
In addition, London is not a good place for Dortmund. Since beating Arsenal 2-1 in 2013, they have lost five matches while coming here. But Dortmund have the motivation to win, because the last time they beat the opponent in both the first leg and back in a pair of knockout matches of the Champions League in the 1996-1997 season, they won the Cup.
One thing worth looking forward to in Dortmund's trip to Stamford Bridge is Jude Bellingham's return home. The England midfielder turned down many offers to join Dortmund in 2020, after leaving Birmingham City. In Germany, Bellingham quickly proved capable. The brilliance at the 2022 World Cup made him a transfer target for many clubs, including Chelsea. If you play well and help Dortmund eliminate Chelsea, the fever called Bellingham will increase.
"Jude was interested in a lot of Premier League clubs but still chose us. Because he thought it was the best move and in fact proved it right in both directions. He helped us, but Dortmund also helped us. proved to be a suitable destination for Jude to develop his career. Dortmund are happy to have him," replied Terzic when Bellingham's future became a topic of concern before the match. He also appreciated the leadership role of the 19-year-old midfielder, wishing Bellingham to continue to prove his role to help Dortmund continue.
The injury crisis will leave Chelsea without the services of N'Golo Kante, Armando Broja, Edouard Mendy, Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva. They hope Reece James and Christian Pulisic, a former Dortmund player, return in time but Mason Mount is suspended. Dortmund also has one player absent due to a card - Julian Ryerson. The away team was also seriously damaged when Youssoufa Moukoko, Abdoulaye Kamara, Mateu Morey, Donyell Malen and Julien Duranville. Adeyemi, who scored the only goal in the first leg, was also unable to play due to injury.
