Graham Potter was without his first choice right wing-back against Leeds but is hopeful of a return on Tuesday against Borussia Dortmund
Graham Potter has hinted that he will be sticking with a back-three for the return Champions League last-16 leg against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, explaining why the onus is not just on Kai Havertz to get goals in the team.
Having gone to a four-man defence in recent weeks, showing little sign of his acumen for tactical flexibility, Potter admitted that the back-three made Chelsea look more assured. “Yeah, I think it would,” he said after the match. “Obviously it hasn’t been as straightforward as it sounds because we’ve had people dropping off regularly really, which has made it hard to have that consistency that you need, that we want.
“But in the meantime we have to keep working, which is what we’ve done. But yeah, I thought we had a nice balance about us. We were better in terms of attacking certainly of the first half. And that’s something for us to improve.”
Potter used Ruben Loftus-Cheek on the right as a makeshift wing-back as he acted as a replacement for James against Javi Gracia’s men, something Thomas Tuchel first tried just over 12 months ago to good success. The turn towards the old system appeared to work too, giving Chilwell more attacking freedom, whilst James has also been at his best in an advanced role.
The German was defended after another goalless game, though. “I think we have to attack better as a team and that’s my responsibility,” Potter explained. “It’s too easy to zoom into individuals and blame them. It’s a collective, we have to create more, do better and that starts with me, helping the team get better chances more chances because then I don’t doubt the quality of the players.”
“But clearly that’s two roles that they’re comfortable in and brings out their quality so something for us to go forward with.”
Chelsea will need them to be on top form against their Bundesliga opponents, a game in which they will need to score at least two goals in if they are to progress outside of penalties.
Without James, Chelsea haven’t scored two in a single game since October, a worrying sign, but the good news is that there is a big chance of the 23-year-old being back in the team for European action. “Reece just felt a little bit of tightness,” Potter said before the game on Saturday.
“Which is sometimes understandable when he’s coming back from an injury. We’ve been assessing this week; we feel it’s too soon for the game on Saturday, but there’s a strong chance he’ll be available for Tuesday.”