EXCL: Safety of Potter's Job, Dressing Room Feeling, Revisiting Mount's Contract, Gvardiol, Colwill, and Commercial Plans
The Ben Jacobs column
Chelsea head into a massive Champions League game against Dortmund off the back of a morale-boosting win over Leeds.
It was a nervy finish in the end, and there would have been a meltdown had visiting goalkeeper Illan Meslier equalised with a late header. But the Leeds win was ultimately more important than the performance.
Chelsea again showed flashes of brilliance, but when Joao Felix hit the bar it looked like another frustrating afternoon. I thought Chelsea showed strong character and the brilliant Wesley Fofana ultimately found the crucial goal.
So much has been made of the new January signings that Fofana (due to injury) has almost been forgotten, especially with Benoit Badiashile coming in and doing really well. But a fit Fofana can be so important to Chelsea. Chipping in with the odd goal isn't really in his repertoire, which is what made him a bit of an unlikely hero against Leeds. He never scored in the Premier League for Leicester, but perhaps he'll make it a habit at Stamford Bridge!
Beating Leeds now sets up a season-defining game against Dortmund. I call it that because Chelsea probably need to win it (and the UCL) to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season. Although Chelsea are trailing 1-0, the first leg was so open. And if Chelsea create as many chances as they did in Germany they can turn the tie around.
