Wesley Fofana said it was an "incredible feeling" to score his first goal for Chelsea in the much-needed win over Leeds United and called on the club to use the result to push forward.
Fofana, who has endured long-term injury absences since joining Chelsea from Leicester City last summer, scored the only goal of the game at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, rising to head home a Ben Chilwell corner in the 53rd minute.
The goal ensured Chelsea's first win in seven matches and helped to ease some of the pressure on manager Graham Potter.
"The feeling is incredible,’ said Fofana, who scored in his second start since returning from the knee injury which had ruled him out since the start of October.
"After my goal the stadium was crazy. Everybody was all together, and the goal was for the whole club.
"On Friday at the training ground I worked on set-pieces, the timing of my run, and then I scored. It’s perfect. The injury for four months, it was hard emotionally, but when I scored everything was leaving me.
"I scored, the team won, and a clean sheet as well. It was a very good day and now we’re focused for Tuesday."
Tuesday represents the next test to Chelsea's faltering season as the Blues prepare to face Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. The Germans won the first leg 1-0 in Dortmund.
Despite the win, goals remain hard to come by for Chelsea, who are level with bottom side Bournemouth for goals scored in the Premier League with just 24 in 25 games.
Chelsea v Leeds player ratings
-
CHELSEA PLAYER RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga – 6 Not required to make any spectacular contributions on this occasion. Marshalled his defence well, dealt with crosses and handled the visitors’ few on-target efforts with a calm head and very safe hands. Getty -
Wesley Fofana - 8 Back in action from the start for the first time in five months, the Frenchman warned Leeds of his aerial danger early on, then made the match-winning contribution by powering in when they failed to heed that warning. Rock-solid defensively and a huge boon for Graham Potter to have him back. AFP -
Kalidou Koulibaly - 6 One or two cracks in his display made for a comparatively subdued performance by his usual high standards, but nevertheless made a priceless contribution when blocking Rutter’s shot shortly after Chelsea had taken the lead. AP -
Benoit Badiashile - 7 One of the best displays yet in the youngster’s burgeoning Blues career. Still looks nervy in possession from time to time, but his defensive work was steady throughout and he looked solid despite the key absence of Thiago Silva. Getty -
Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 6 A mixed day’s work for the repurposed right wing-back, who did well to shut down Leeds with the defensive side of his role, but found himself unable to offer as much going forward. Getty -
Enzo Fernandez - 7 Another quietly refined showing with plenty of neat touches on the ball and energetic running without it but left his shooting boots at home as he repeatedly tried but failed to test Meslier. EPA -
Mateo Kovacic - 6 Started well as captain for the day and looked keen to imprint on proceedings as Chelsea edged the early midfield duel. As Leeds grew in stature, however, his influence waned and he was hooked as the hosts struggled to hold on in the second half. AP -
Ben Chilwell – 7 Stationed at left wing-back, the England international put in an energetic shift up and down the flank. Made a fine early challenge to stop Rutter breaking away and sped into menacing attacking positions more than once. Headlined his contribution with a fine corner for Fofana’s decider. EPA -
Joao Felix - 7 Was all over the place in the first period, best illustrated when he dropped deep to get involved in creating an attack, then drilled against the underside of the bar as the move climaxed. Chelsea’s liveliest creative outlet by a distance. EPA -
Kai Havertz - 5 Denied in an early one-on-one by Meslier, but that was the sum total of his action in front of goal. Put in an energetic pressing shift and helped run down the block, but needs to up his output. EPA -
Raheem Sterling - 6 Involved in much of Chelsea’s early dominance, teeing up fellow forwards Havertz and Felix, only to see both squander the openings. His frustration would have been mirrored elsewhere in the second half, however, when he blazed wastefully off-target after a speedy break. EPA -
SUBS: Conor Gallagher (Felix 68’) - 7 The pick of Potter’s substitutions. Brought energy at the right time in the right areas and fought for his side’s right to win the game. AP -
Denis Zakaria (Sterling 68’) – 5 Thrown on to solidify the Chelsea midfield, only for Leeds to start making more inroads in wide areas. Largely bypassed. EPA -
Carney Chukwuemeka (Kovacic 75’) – 5 Unable to provide the pressure-lifting menace Potter had hoped for. Reuters -
Noni Madueke (Fernandez 84’) - N/A – Spent his brief cameo on the fringes of the game as Leeds piled forward. EPA -
Trevoh Chalobah (Loftus-Cheek 84’) – N/A Made the most of his short time on the field with a couple of substantial tackles. Pawan Singh / The National -
LEEDS UNITED PLAYER RATINGS: Illan Meslier - 6 Made a smart early stop to thwart Havertz in a one-on-one and had to be on his toes to deal with a succession of first-half crosses. Almost headed a sensational late equaliser but could only nod straight at Kepa. EPA -
Luke Ayling - 6 Tested by Sterling, especially during the first half, but the skipper gave as good as he got throughout. Kept trying to haul his side back into the game and came no closer than with a late header which arced off-target. AFP -
Robin Koch - 7 Made a brilliant challenge to deny Chilwell a certain opener during Chelsea’s early dominance. Solid throughout and in control of matters inside his area for the majority of the game. Unfortunate to be on the losing side. Reuters -
Maximilian Wober - 7 Like Koch, rarely found himself troubled by the Blues’ confidence-shorn attack and can consider himself unlucky to leave Stamford Bridge without a clean sheet. Neat and tidy with and without the ball. AFP -
Junior Firpo - 6 A constantly willing outlet down the left flank but unable to make a telling contribution to proceedings. Did his job defensively and restricted Havertz’s influence aside from one early chance. EPA -
Weston McKennie - 6 Outjumped by Fofana for the opening goal in a horrible mismatch, but almost made amends shortly afterwards, only to direct his own header off-target at the other end. Grew in influence as the game wore on. AP -
Tyler Adams - 6 Bypassed in the early stages as Chelsea bossed midfield, but steadily grew into the occasion. Almost levelled straight away with a fine curling effort just past the top corner. Involved in a late altercation with Chilwell as frustration grew. AP -
Crysencio Summerville - 7 Caused problems for the Chelsea backline all day long but was unable to translate that into a telling contribution. Time and again looked to be on the cusp of producing something inspired, but it never arrived. PA -
Brenden Aaronson - 5 Full of his usual drive, both defensively and going forward. Had an effort deflected over and a fine pull-back almost gave Summerville an opening, but ultimately didn’t contribute enough cutting edge. AP -
Jack Harrison - 4 Promised more than he delivered as Leeds’ attacks repeatedly floundered on the final ball. Put in plenty of effort but had an off-day by his standards and will look to bounce back to his best under Gracia’s management. Getty -
Georginio Rutter - 6 Passed up an early headed opportunity and later had a great chance to level, but his shot ricocheted off Koulibaly’s legs and dribbled through to Kepa. Posed problems but couldn’t find that killer touch at the right time. AP -
Mateo Joseph (Aaronson 68’) – 6 Looked lively from the moment he arrived in the game. Almost forced an injury-time leveller but his low shot was well fielded by Kepa. PA -
Wilfried Gnonto (Rutter 68’) – 5 Introduced to bring the cutting edge absent in Rutter’s game, but wasn’t given the same level of service and couldn’t provide the required impact; Sam Greenwood (Harrison, 80) – N/A. Getty
"Everybody is trying to score, defenders and attackers," said the 22-year-old France defender. "It was me but next game it’s Joao or Kai or any player. We just need to push and work and try to win every game. That’s it."
Potter said he was relieved to see his side close out the win against Leeds, and like Fofana, urged his players to turn their focus to Tuesday's make-or-break European challenge.
"It’s a nice three points, an important three points. It’s good for confidence, good for morale," he said. "The boys have been suffering because they care and our supporters have been suffering as well.
"It’s been a tough period for us. The win gives us the chance to recover, to prepare for a massive game on Tuesday night and that’s what we have to focus on."
