Graham Potter is enjoying the best night of his Chelsea career as the Blues boss overcomes troubles with a Champions League win to emulate England managerial legends

Graham Potter undoubtedly enjoyed the best night of his Chelsea career to date.

The Blues knocked Borussia Dortmund out of the Champions League with a 2-1 aggregate win and clinched a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

There was some controversy surrounding Kai Havertz’s goal as his penalty was missed before he scored the retake due to a Dortmunder encroaching before the first penalty came back off the post.

Potter won’t care one bit since he got that piece of happiness he so desperately craved.

It’s been a miserable time for the former Brighton boss lately as his Chelsea side have struggled immensely.

Before Tuesday night they had won just two games in 2023 – the second of which only came against Leeds on Saturday.

The Champions League clash was also the first time they have scored more than one goal in a game since December 27.

The pressure on Potter mounted and speculation grew as to whether he was the man to move them forward.

Todd Boehly has spent more than £600million since becoming Blues owner last summer but the results have not translated on the pitch.

That seemed largely forgotten as Potter beamed after the final whistle, the blues boss smiling happily as the pressure eased somewhat after admitting the pressure wasn’t easy.

He is also only the second England manager to qualify via a knockout game in the Champions League after Harry Redknapp did so with Tottenham in 2010.

That win was Potter’s fifth of that season in the Champions League, the only other English manager to do so, alongside Sir Bobby Robson with Newcastle in 2002/03.

When asked how he was feeling, Potter told BT Sport: “I’m not sure, to be honest. There are many emotions in the body.

“In the end it was exciting. We played well in the second half and created a few good chances. I’m just happy for them that they were able to achieve victory and happy for everyone here.

“It was a fantastic feeling in the dressing room. Everyone is excited. We’ve been through a tough time and we’ve been through a lot.

“We wanted to go through and get into the last eight, which we did and that sets us up for the next few weeks.”

Chelsea will hope to use this result as a springboard for the rest of the season but Potter wasn’t too far ahead.

The blues boss added: “You just have to recover and prepare for Saturday. We play in Leicester on Saturday and we will do our job.

“It’s great for the boys. Two wins and two clean sheets after a tough period. That’s what you get in life sometimes and it’s how you react and the players have been amazing.”