Chelsea made their way past Borussia Dortmund and into the Champions League quarter-finals with a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. On what was a defining night for Graham Potter, his returning stars did the trick.
Being able to once more rely on Wesley Fofana at the back - making his first European appearance since injury in the group stages in October - the Frenchman was outstanding in defence. He was partnered in the back five by Reece James - who missed the weekend's action with Leeds out of precaution - and Ben Chilwell.
The English left-back was brilliant once more, supplying Raheem Sterling with the assist for the opener before winning the decisive second half penalty. Their record together in Europe for Chelsea is the stuff of dreams, playing 17 times, winning 12 of those with three draws, scoring 29 and conceding just five.
With Potter previously struggling without the pair it is perhaps not a surprise, given how good they have been when on the field together. James was kicked off the park towards the end of the battle on Tuesday with Jude Bellingham in particular making an enemy of his international teammate and good friend.
James spent several minutes down injured across the final part of the game but once more had Chilwell there to defend him. With just over four weeks until the quarter-finals he will need to be wrapped up in cotton wool to ensure he is ready for the tie. Meanwhile N'Golo Kante is also likely to be ready for his next calling when the schedule comes around to European action once more.
The Frenchman didn't make the squad for this match, with Potter saying it was still too soon. "It is too soon for N'Golo [Kante] but he's looking good," he confirmed before the game.
"It's a complex one with him because he has had a long time out. It'll be a case of how we get him back up to speed to play Premier League or Champions League football. He won't be able to go back in for 90 minutes any time soon but the fact he is with us is exciting."
Kante is a Champions League specialist and will be a true weapon and asset for the Blues when the last eight go head-to-head in April. He has a chance to slowly build up to a return before then too. It is former side Leicester City next on the agenda for the 31-year-old.
Outside of that, Mason Mount missed the game with suspension but was also an injury worry after picking up a knock that forced him to miss the Leeds game. "Mason [Mount] has had a problem with a lower abdomen area and tomorrow [Saturday vs Leeds] is too soon for him," Potter said last week.
One player that did make a return was Christian Pulisic, he came off the bench for his first minutes since January 5 and will be keen to once more start to challenge for gametime with a new look attack since he was last on the pitch.
Elsewhere Armando Broja remains out, as does Thiago Silva.
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