OGC Nice are considering former Chelsea boss Graham Potter ahead of 2023/24 season. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Graham Potter claims he is looking forward to facing Real Madrid in the quarterfinals of the Champions League, but says that Chelsea should concentrate on the game on Saturday.
We knocked out Real Madrid on our way to the Champions League title in 2021 but were then eliminated by them in spectacular fashion last season, when they scraped through 5-4 on aggregate in the quarter-finals. The third meeting between the two clubs will take place this time with a new manager and owner for Chelsea.
After eliminating Borussia Dortmund in the last 16, the Blues, who are now ranked 10th in the English top division, have to defeat the Champions League current holder to advance to the semi-finals. And if the Blues beat Real, they’ll either play Bayern Munich or Manchester City.
Given their terrible performance under Potter, this has undoubtedly raised concerns about the Blues’ ability to defeat a difficult team like Real Madrid. When asked how he felt following Chelsea’s draw with Real Madrid (h/t Metro), the former Swansea manager responded as follows:
‘’The feeling is excitement. I’ve said we will try to win the Champions League, and that’s the same for the other seven clubs in the draw, I’m sure.”
‘‘We will focus on Real Madrid when we get there, but at the moment our thoughts are on tomorrow and Everton. I’d rather focus on Everton because the other stuff is a long way away.’’
Potter seems correct; we should give importance to the games that are coming up because they will determine where we are in the Premier League, and Chelsea have plenty of time to get mentally prepared to face Real Madrid.
Also, he has the assurance that the Blues are on the right track and will be willing to take them on. We will also be greatly aided by N’Golo Kante’s return since by that time he will be totally fit. If our winning streak persists, Real may have a hard time defeating us.
We have recently put together wins against Leeds United and the all-important 2-0 win in the second leg of the last-16 clash against Borussia Dortmund. Real Madrid are, however, different gravy.
While we have no reason to fear them senselessly, they are perhaps the one team every Chelsea fan would have wanted to dodge in the draw. Now that we will face them, perhaps we can learn a lesson or two from Liverpool’s embarrassing 6-2 aggregate defeat against the Blues in the last round and ensure we learn our lesson. Just keep things tight at the Santiago Bernabeu on 12 April and keep the game alive when the second leg takes place six days later in SW6.
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