Kai Havertz came to the defense of Graham Potter after Chelsea secured a crucial victory over Borussia Dortmund to advance to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Chelsea’s Kai Havertz has praised manager Graham Potter following the club’s 2-0 aggregate win over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday night. The German international scored the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the first leg to secure their quarter-final spot.
The victory was a much-needed boost for Potter, who has faced significant scrutiny in recent weeks due to a poor run of form in all competitions. Speaking to beiN SPORTS after the match, Havertz defended his manager and insisted that the team is fully behind him.
“We know the pressure is coming at him,” Havertz said. “You can see he is a big manager. In the media, I cannot believe how many people talk about him. We have hundreds of coaches in England that think they know better than him. We know in the changing room he’s a big personality and big manager and helps us all a lot. Me included. We are 100 per cent behind him.”
The comments from the 21-year-old attacking midfielder come as a significant boost to Potter, who has faced intense criticism from both fans and the media in recent weeks. The Brighton manager has been under fire due to a run of just two wins in their last 13 Premier League games, leaving them hovering just above the relegation zone.
However, with the win over Dortmund, Potter has shown that he has the tactical acumen and leadership qualities to guide his team to success in the most challenging of circumstances.
The Germans comments demonstrate the belief and trust that the Chelsea players have in their manager, which could prove to be a crucial factor as they look to push on in the latter stages of the competition.
Overall, the win over Dortmund was a huge boost for both Chelsea and Potter, with Havertz’s comments highlighting the importance of having a strong manager who can inspire and motivate his team to achieve their goals.
As the Blues look to progress further in the competition, they will undoubtedly rely on Potter’s leadership and tactical expertise, and Havertz’s endorsement suggests that they are in good hands.