Enzo Fernandez, Raheem Sterling and Denis Zakaria have all dropped team news hints ahead of Chelsea's clash with Borussia Dortmund this evening in the Champions League round of 16 second-leg. The trio have posted pre-match graphic previews of the clash to their respective Instagram stories — as has Kalidou Koulibaly.
Karim Adeyemi scored the only goal of the game against the west Londoners at Signal Iduna Park in the first-leg after catching the Blues on the counter-attack. Graham Potter, whose position in the dugout is under pressure, could now have one less puzzle to solve after the striker suffered a hamstring injury against Hertha Berlin last month.
Great doubt has been cast over the Chelsea boss' future in recent weeks having won just once in his his previous seven games across all competitions. With Potter in desperate need of a result, he'll be hoping that the likes of Fernandez, Sterling, Zakaria and Koulibaly do enough to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
READ MORE: Bold transfer move pays off for Stan Kroenke and Arsenal as Chelsea face embarrassment
And, ahead of what is poised to be a blockbuster bout, Potter previewed the tie. Speaking to football.london, the Blues boss said: "It’s a big game, an exciting game, a chance to go through to the last eight of the Champions League.
"It will be a special night at Stamford Bridge, so we’re really looking forward to that. All our thoughts are on being positive, winning the game, and going through.
"In terms of what we learned from the previous game [against Dortmund] they are a top opponent," Potter added. "You can see from their results in the Bundesliga, they are in a fantastic vein of form, winning games constantly.
"That tells you as a team they are doing a lot well. Attack and defend, good individuals, well coached. So it’s a big challenge for us but we’re excited for."
Potter continued by explaining the importance of a win amid a rut of poor form. He said: "The position we’re in, you should always welcome pressure because it means you’re in a fantastic situation which is to compete for the last eight of the Champions League.
"It’s a wonderful competition and it’ll be a special night. It was a special occasion in Dortmund and I’m sure it will be the same at Stamford Bridge tomorrow. We’re looking forward to the game and competing to go through because it’s a fantastic competition and we want to progress."
While Fernandez, Sterling, Zakaria and Koulibaly posting graphic previews of the Dortmund fixture on their social media profiles does not necessarily mean they will start, it usually means they will be involved in some capacity. Follow live coverage of the game in our blog here.
READ NEXT:
Ten Chelsea players who will be missing from squad to face Borussia Dortmund in Champions League
Predicted Chelsea team vs Borussia Dortmund – James returns, Badiashile replacement decided
Mateo Kovacic drops key Graham Potter formation hint ahead of Chelsea vs Borussia Dortmund
James, Kante, Pulisic: Chelsea injury news and return dates for Borussia Dortmund clash
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge
