Potter says 'weight lifted off my shoulders' after back-to-back Chelsea wins

Blues registered successive victories for the first time since October

Chelsea manager Graham Potter celebrates after the end of the Champions League round of 16 against Borussia Dortmund at Stamford Bridge. AP

Chelsea manager Graham Potter heaved a sigh of relief as the Champions League last-16 triumph over Borussia Dortmund lifted a weight off his shoulders following a poor run of results.

The Blues won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit and advance to the quarter-finals.

The victory against the Bundesliga side followed a Premier League win against Leeds, handing Chelsea their first back-to-back successes since October.

"Has the weight been lifted off my shoulders? Yes, in some ways," said Potter, whose team have won just two of their past 10 Premier League matches.

"I'm not getting carried away, it's just two wins so we have to focus on Leicester. The boys have been in a good place, good spirit, they've stuck together in a bad time which is good, there's a lot to say about that."

Chelsea's supporters voiced their relief at Stamford Bridge at full-time on Tuesday.

Chelsea's Raheem Sterling celebrates with Enzo Fernandez and Ben Chilwell after scoring their first goal against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League last-16 second-leg game at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. Reuters

Kai Havertz of Chelsea celebrates with teammates after scoring the second goal. EPA

Raheem Sterling of Chelsea scores their first goal. Getty

Kai Havertz of Chelsea celebrates with teammate Mateo Kovacic after scoring the second goal. EPA

Chelsea's Kai Havertz scores the team's second goal with a re-taken penalty. AFP

Chelsea's Kai Havertz celebrates scoring their second goal. PA

Dortmund players surround referee Danny Makkelie after he ruled that Chelsea's German midfielder Kai Havertz should re-take his penalty after a VAR review. AFP

Dortmund players surround Referee Danny Makkelie after he deemed ruled that Chelsea could re-take their penalty. AFP

Chelsea's Kai Havertz hits the post from the penalty spot before a VAR review led to the spot kick being re-taken for encroachment by Borussia Dortmund. AFP

Chelsea's Conor Gallagher scores a goal that was disallowed for offside. Reuters

Chelsea's Kai Havertz watches his shot hit the post. AFP

Joao Felix of Chelsea shoots under pressure from Jude Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund. Getty

Chelsea's Kai Havertz scores only for his goal to be disallowed for offside. PA

Kai Havertz of Chelsea reacts after scoring a goal that was ruled out after an offside. Getty

Dortmund's German Marco Reus takes a free-kick. AFP

Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga is shown a yellow card by referee Danny Makkelie. Reuters

Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga makes a save from a Borussia Dortmund free-kick. AFP

Sebastien Haller of Borussia Dortmund battles with Wesley Fofana of Chelsea. Getty

Chelsea's Mateo Kovacic and Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham jump for the ball. PA

Chelsea's Kalidou Koulibaly head at goal. AFP

Chelsea's Kai Havertz has a shot under pressure from Borussia Dortmund's Emre Can. PA

Chelsea's Reece James and Ben Chilwell. Reuters

Borussia Dortmund's Julian Brandt leaves the pitch after picking up an injury early in the game. Reuters

Yellow smoke form flares let off by Dortmund fans fills Stamford Bridge. AFP

Dortmund fans hold up yellow flares before kick-off. AFP

"It's our job to produce games and produce results," said Potter. "I think that the performance was a positive one and I think that they appreciated that.

"I think generally when that's the case (winning) they get behind the team and support the team so I have nothing to say about how we've been treated with the supporters -- they've been great, fantastic."

Potter will be without Raheem Sterling and Reece James for the trip to Leicester on Saturday.

Sterling, who scored the goal that levelled the two-legged tie on Tuesday, is out with a tight hamstring while James has been ill and did not train on Friday.

N'Golo Kante, who has not played since August after undergoing surgery on an injured hamstring, will not be rushed back to face his former side at the King Power Stadium but is in line to make a return for next Saturday's home game against Everton.

Meanwhile, Potter said that Mykhailo Mudryk will return to the Chelsea side stronger after spending four games out of the starting line-up. The winger has struggled to make an impact since his £88million transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk in January and has not started since the first-leg defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League last month.

Potter said: "Every player wants to play and it's important that players play in order to improve. That's a fact.

"But at the same time it's not a straight road. It's not just play and then everything happens in a linear way. Sometimes you have to take a step away, sometimes you just need a bit of training time, just need a breather. Lots of factors."