Graham Potter admitted he was terrified to watch as a twice-taken Kai Havertz penalty sent Chelsea into the Champions League quarter-finals – and saved the club’s season.
Havertz was given a second chance to add to Raheem Sterling ’s first-half opener after VAR ruled Dortmund’s players had encroached after the German forward hit the post from the spot. After Havertz scored with the retake, Potter said: “I wasn't watching it [the penalty] but delighted when I heard the roar.
"Taking penalties is not for me, so I am in awe of anybody [who does]. There was a fantastic feeling in the dressing room. We have been through a tough period and this competition means a lot for us. We wanted to progress and get into the last eight and it sets us up for the next few weeks.”
The win came after fans lined the streets outside Stamford Bridge pre-match in an incredible show of backing for under-fire Potter and his men. The Chelsea boss added: "It was important we put pressure on them [Dortmund] and get the crowd with us. It is not easy to do because they are a top team playing with confidence.”
Victory was only Chelsea’s fourth in 17 matches for Potter and could have been more emphatic – with Chelsea creating a string of chances - had Havertz not hit the inside of the post earlier in the first half. But Potter believed the club’s first back-to-back wins since October have provided a platform for a strong finish to the season.
He said: "We have to recover and prepare for Saturday when we play Leicester. It is great for the boys, two clean sheets after a tough period. You get that in life and it is about how you respond and the players have been fantastic.
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"It was important we put pressure on them and get the crowd with us. It is not easy to do because they are a top team playing with confidence.
"Credit to the players they gave everything and over the two games I thought we deserved to go through.”
Whilst Potter admitted that he could not watch Havertz's second attempt from the spot, one man who did was Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham. The England star was left baffled with the decision to hand Chelsea another effort and made his displeasure clear after the final whistle.
“The fact they had a retake is a joke,” Bellingham said. “For every penalty with such a slow run-up there is going to be encroachment by people running into the box by a yard or so, but that’s the game. They’ve made the decision and we’ve had to live with it.”
Chelsea join Portuguese giants Benfica in the quarter finals after their 7-1 aggregate success over Club Brugge, whilst Tottenham's fate against AC Milan will be decided on Wednesday.
