2022-23 UEFA Champions League knockout stage team preview: Chelsea

IN BRIEF
Manager: Graham Potter
Group stage performance: 1st (LDWWWW – vs Dinamo Zagreb, Milan, Red Bull Salzburg)
UEFA Champions League/European Cups: 2 (2011/12, 2020/21
Last season’s performance: Quarter-finals
SO FAR…
It was a poor start to the UEFA Champions League group stage campaign for Chelsea with The Blues losing their opening match away to Dinamo Zagreb. A day later and Thomas Tuchel had been relieved of his duties. A few days further on and Graham Potter was put in place to replace Tuchel.
Potter’s first game in charge was the next UEFA Champions League group match and it was another disappointing result as the two-time European champions were held to a 1-1 draw by RB Salzburg.
However, the final four matches and, most importantly, the middle two matches against AC Milan fell in the sweet spot of Potter’s reign at Chelsea. Potter’s Chelsea began well and they dispatched of Milan by three goals to nil at Stamford Bridge before cruising to a 2-0 win a week later at San Siro to all but sew up top spot.
They finished off the campaign with unconvincing victories against the aforementioned Dinamo and Salzburg but it was the two performances against Milan, which were the most impressive in the entire Potter tenure so far, that sealed top spot.
WHAT ARE CHELSEA’S CHANCES IN THE KNOCKOUT STAGES?
However, those performances and victories against the reigning Italian champions have to now be viewed in a different light, given the fairly wretched form of AC Milan for one and also the dip in Chelsea’s results.
Since then, Chelsea have drifted well into mid-table in the Premier League and been convincingly knocked out of both the FA Cup and EFL Cup by Manchester City.
Todd Boehly’s spending at Chelsea over the course of two transfer windows has neared £600 million but their squad remains flawed with serious issues. In goal, in the centre of defence, in the centre of midfield and as a number nine, Chelsea have struggles with regards to the quality and/or longevity of their current personnel.
They face an unpredictable and inconsistent Borussia Dortmund side in the first knockout tie of the UEFA Champions League. Chelsea have very little to play for with a top four finish seeming unlikely so their focus could and should be on a deep run into Europe’s elite competition.
ODDS TO WIN THE 2022-23 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 18/1
Odds used are the best at Oddschecker at the time of writing