Now it’s time to get angry. Chelsea were slick, measured and rather impressive – until they reached the final third. Chances came, chances went and, when Graham Potter looks over the statistics and thinks of all the near misses, he can be forgiven if yet another sloppy display from his forwards leaves him in a rage.
Chelsea should never have lost control of this game. Ultimately, though, the lack of ruthlessness was no surprise. After all Chelsea, who probably could have done with including a finisher of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s calibre in their Champions League squad, have scored six goals in their past 10 matches and they should be furious with themselves for allowing opponents as vulnerable as Borussia Dortmund to establish a lead before next month’s return at Stamford Bridge.
The worry is that there was plenty of blame to go around. There will be questions about Potter’s decision not to have Aubameyang as an option off the bench given that Kai Havertz remains pretty but effective. João Félix was also wayward in front of goal and, when Dortmund struck midway through the second half, it was staggering that Enzo Fernández was the only outfield player standing in Karim Adeyemi’s way when the winger put Edin Terzic’s team ahead.
In fairness it was magnificent from Adeyemi. He began in his own half when a corner was cleared, tore beyond Fernández, rounded Kepa Arrizabalaga and tapped into the empty net. But it was a disastrous concession for the visitors and, while Chelsea should be capable of overturning a 1-0 deficit, there can be no guarantee that they will be clinical enough to do so.
Potter needs his players to develop a nasty side. Much of the pre-match focus before had lingered on his calm when decisions go against Chelsea. More interesting, though, is whether Potter can inspire a response on the pitch. Tenth in the Premier League, Chelsea need more conviction.
Afterwards Potter called the performance “another step forward”. He often speaks about the new faces needing time to settle. Yet Dortmund, third in the Bundesliga, cannot match Chelsea’s resources. Over £500m has been spent on refurbishing Potter’s squad. There is a process, but results should be better.
To his credit Potter picked a fun team – Félix off Havertz, creativity and pace out wide, Kalidou Koulibaly in a back four on his first start since 11 January – and the start was as promising as you might have expected from a side with an £106.8m world champion in midfield.
Dortmund had nowhere near as much star power, even with Adeyemi a livewire on the left and Jude Bellingham driving them on. The press was furious but the high line was less convincing. It was a dangerous tactic with Mykhaylo Mudryk on the left – Nico Schlotterbeck had to make a crucial early tackle on the winger – while Dortmund soon found themselves struggling to contain Félix.
There was a fluidity to Chelsea’s football. Was this the future? Mason Mount was on the bench again. Félix was the main man in attack, though his finishing disappointed. Twice the forward let Dortmund off the hook; first when he blazed over from Hakim Ziyech’s cutback, then when he snaked through and hit the bar.
Chelsea, who had a goal disallowed for handball by Thiago Silva, could not pull clear. That encouraged Dortmund, who went close through Sébastien Haller. Julian Brandt also bent a shot wide.
Koulibaly’s presence alongside Silva was a reminder of Chelsea’s new look. Being forced to name only three January signings in their squad meant there was no room for Benoît Badiashile, even though the centre-back has been in excellent form. In came Koulibaly – £34m last summer, bags of experience – while Potter also rotated his expensive left-backs, with Ben Chilwell eager to impress after replacing Marc Cucurella.
Chelsea had more energy than Dortmund, who were often overrun in midfield. Bellingham was fortunate not to be sent off for a second booking at the start of the second half and Reece James started to maraud. One run from the Chelsea right-back drew a risky foul from Emre Can. Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel pushed James’s free-kick away.
Kobel was soon repelling James again. The set-pieces piled up and the pressure grew. Then Dortmund struck. Much of their threat had come from Adeyemi, who had wriggled down the left and created a rare chance for Brandt, and Chelsea were in trouble when a clearance found the winger. “It’s ‘Meep Meep’,” Terzic said, comparing Adeyemi to Road Runner. “And then he goes.”
But where was Chelsea’s structure? Fernández could not live with Adeyemi. The 21-year-old was too quick, the balance was beautiful and his finish was smart.
Chelsea responded by bringing on Mount. Cucurella replaced a tiring Chilwell. They raised the pace again and Kobel made stunning saves from Koulibaly and Fernández. Somehow, with a little help from Chelsea, Dortmund emerged triumphant.
