Kai Havertz penalty drama helps Chelsea edge past Borussia Dortmund

If this was the night when Graham Potter’s great comeback began, the night when he truly arrived as Chelsea’s manager and connected with the fans, he will always look back fondly on Raheem Sterling’s unpredictable finishing confusing Borussia Dortmund and a fussy VAR handing Kai Havertz a second go at winning this tie from the penalty spot.

Perhaps it was inevitable that this team would not take the easy route to goal. Finishing remains an issue for Chelsea and at times it seemed their wastefulness would cost them again. That they were stronger than Dortmund was never in doubt. Yet there was no guarantee Chelsea were going to make their superiority count and, as the misses piled up during the first half, it was hard not to fear it was going to be a familiar tale of woe.

As it was, the evening would end on an unsettling note: Potter beaming as he strode on to the pitch after the final whistle, the emotion taking over for once as he did his best Jürgen Klopp impression in front of the Matthew Harding Stand.

This could be a defining moment. For once Potter was a lucky manager – and deservedly so. A week ago he was two defeats away from the sack. Now Chelsea’s owners will feel they were wise to stand by their man. Their season has meaning again. It does not take much to alter the narrative and Potter, who has continued to trust his tactical acumen, will feel anything is possible after Chelsea reached the Champions League quarter-finals thanks to strange goals from Sterling and Havertz.

Chelsea have been here before. They were unfancied when they won this competition in 2012 and 2021, though this comeback from 1-0 down after the away leg was not as fraught as previous ones. Potter outwitted Edin Terzić. A delayed kick-off,