13 February 2023 , 06:00
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Humility has not typically been a trait associated with Chelsea down the years.
But Graham Potter thinks his revamped team must show plenty of it when they head to Borussia Dortmund this week for a Champions League tie in which defeat would likely mean the remainder of their campaign is a write off.
Throughout the Roman Abramovich era, this was a club that often wore belligerence as a badge of honour. One of their greatest strengths was a self-belief that frequently bordered on aggressiveness.
Now, however, the head coach thinks the right to behave in such a manner must be earned by a side that is unrecognisable compared to this day 12 months ago – when Chelsea flew home from Abu Dhabi with the Club World Cup.
“We have the capability to beat Dortmund but they are also a strong side with the capability to get a result as well. We have to understand that and go to Dortmund with humility, with respect, and try to get the result,” Potter said after Saturday’s draw at West Ham.
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It is hard to imagine any other Chelsea boss in the past 20 years speaking with such an air of diffidence.
Perhaps Potter was simply weary from a match in which five of the January arrivals began justifying their individual price tags for 25 minutes before displaying a brittleness that the previous regime would have scowled at.
For the opening quarter Chelsea looked every bit a team that has had more than half a billion of investment in two transfer windows. Joao Felix’s goal, set up by the impressive Enzo Fernandez, was of the highest quality and the visitors’ attacking movement left West Ham dazed.
But once the hosts woke from their slumber and realised that the dismally out of form Marc Cucurella could be pressed into mistakes, Chelsea suddenly became toothless.
“The first half was a glimpse,” Potter said as he attempted to underline why he is “excited” about the rest of a season that has been mostly dire. “But clearly we’re still a work in progress.”
The second half, for context, passed off without a single attempt on target. Fluency and consistency takes time to develop, especially when half the team is made up of individuals adapting to new surroundings.
Enzo Fernandez impressed against West Ham but those around him are still adapting to their new surroundings. (PA)Building that chemistry is further complicated by some of the new signings being unable to play in Dortmund. Winger Noni Madueke, who faded despite a buzzy start on Saturday, and Benoit Badiashile, the centre back who has slotted in comfortably since arriving from Monaco, are not registered.
Then again their absence means an opportunity for another two members of a bloated group to stake a claim as Potter faces the daunting prospect of keeping two dozen egos motivated.
It could end up being a blessing or a curse. For Potter it, simply, “is what it is” even if he acknowledged that “lots of things over the last five months have been suboptimal.”
He added “there’s no point complaining about that, it’s just my job to deal with it.” Yet there is a growing sense of tetchiness from a fanbase accustomed to instant rewards, underlined by their loss of patience with Cucurella at London Stadium.
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“Supporters are entitled to their opinion of course and they just want the team to do well,” Potter said. Lose in Germany and their irritation will be again trained on the humble one in the dugout.