Graham Potter and 6 questions before Chelsea's 'life-or-death matches'

1. DORTMUND HAY LEEDS?

Chelsea will have a tense schedule when having to travel to Leeds on March 4th, 2023, and continue to confront Dortmund in the Champions League after 3 days; therefore, using the squad to balance fitness is a difficult question for coach Potter.
While it may make sense to rest Kai Havertz for the match against Leeds based on logic and form, he may have to play in the center role against Dortmund due to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and David Datro Fofana not being registered in the Champions League squad.

Havertz has only scored six goals this season, with just one goal in the last 11 matches and one assist. Despite this, he is still a better option compared to Aubameyang, who is currently being overlooked at Chelsea. Additionally, Chelsea will be without defender Benoit BaDias and winger Noni Madueke for the match against Dortmund.

Potter will have to decide whether to prioritize the match against Dortmund or Leeds. Losing to Leeds could result in Potter being immediately fired from Chelsea.

2. PLAYING WITH A DEFENSE OF 3 OR 4?

The injury to Thiago Silva is also unfortunate for Coach Potter. Opting for a three-man defense against Leeds was deemed a safe choice. However, the pairing of Kalidou Koulibaly and Badiashile did not fare well in their last match against Southampton. Fortunately, Wesley Fofana's return and the availability of Cesar Azpilicueta and Trevoh Chalobah should provide Potter with additional options. Furthermore, adding a central defender could assist Enzo Fernandez, who has exposed several defensive weaknesses in the team's losses to Dortmund and Tottenham.

3. MOUNT, FELIX, OR BOTH?

Potter has the option of choosing between placing either Mason Mount or Joao Felix at the bottom of Chelsea's center forward, or even selecting both. While Felix has generally played well since joining Chelsea, he has only contributed one goal and is yet to provide an assist. Furthermore, Chelsea's scoring troubles have not improved with Felix on the team.

On the other hand, despite not being in his best form this season, Mount has still been involved in nine Chelsea goals (3 goals and 6 assists). It's worth noting that Chelsea's best performance against Milan in the Champions League came when Mount started alongside Aubameyang and Raheem Sterling. If Potter goes with a four-back formation, Mount can start on the right flank of the trio, playing directly under the striker, with Felix taking on the role of "number 10". However, if Chelsea plays with three defenders, Potter will have to choose between the two options.

4. CRUEL OR CONTINUE TO BE PEACEFUL AND PRECIOUS?

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Potter is currently managing a team with many star players. However, instead of establishing his own authority, he appears to be more focused on pleasing everyone. Chelsea supporters have never seen their former Brighton "captain" complain about any individual. Several players expressed their discontent at being excluded from the squad in the recent defeat to Tottenham. The question now is whether Potter will remain lenient or adopt a tougher stance.

In addition, there is also the issue of Hakim Ziyech, who requested to leave Chelsea via email on the final day of the January transfer window. The Moroccan midfielder had subsequently traveled to Paris without permission but was still able to start in the team's last three games. While Potter may feel that Ziyech deserves another opportunity, the fact remains that the player has failed to make a significant impact for Chelsea whenever he has played.

5. PROTECT STUDENTS OR TELL THE TRUTH?

Following every poor result for Chelsea, Coach Potter has consistently defended his players in front of the media and taken full responsibility for the team's performance. The English coach has stressed that he believes in his squad, but the reality is that Chelsea have only managed to secure one win this season and have not been able to salvage a draw after conceding a lead to their opponents. It's possible that Potter has been too lenient with his players and has not been forthcoming about the issues at hand. It's clear that Chelsea need a push, particularly in terms of discipline, in order to get the club back on track.

6. WHO WILL WEAR THE CAPTAIN'S ARMBAND?

During the match against Tottenham, Silva was forced to leave the field due to injury, and despite the presence of Koulibaly and Sterling, the captains of Senegal and England, respectively, James was given the captain's armband. If Azpilicueta is in the lineup, he will be Chelsea's captain. However, in his absence, it will be up to Potter to determine who is deserving of the role. Although James is a talented player, he is still young and lacks the necessary experience to lead the team. Furthermore, the added responsibility of wearing the captain's armband may place more pressure on him and make it challenging for him to perform at his best.

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