LONDON – There was almost palpable relief on the pitch, in the tunnel and in the stands at Stamford Bridge on Saturday after Chelsea produced their first win in seven weeks – a stuttering 1-0 Premier League victory over Leeds United.

Applause replaced the jeers of previous weeks and players, wreathed in smiles, hugged one another as they left the pitch.

Manager Graham Potter has been under enormous pressure after a string of defeats and draws.

Chelsea fans had called for his sacking, with even death threats aimed at him and his family.

The club had spent some £300 million (S$485.5 million) in the January transfer window, adding to the expectations to succeed. But Potter has had trouble turning his expensive array of talent into an effective attacking force.

Scoring 24 goals in 25 games is not a strike rate expected of the club used to flying high in the Premier League and who won the Champions League as recently as 2021.

So, even if Saturday’s win – only their third in their last 16 games in all competitions – was less than spectacular, it transformed Potter’s post-match demeanour.

“It’s a big win,” beamed the Chelsea boss, as his side ended a three-game losing streak.

“We are delighted with the win that’s for sure because we’ve had a tough period.”

French defender Wesley Fofana, who joined Chelsea at the start of the season but was sidelined for a lengthy period due to injury, scored the only goal of the game, rising above Leeds defenders to head home a corner kick from Ben Chilwell early in the second half.

It was Chelsea’s first goal in 396 minutes and just their second in seven games in all competitions as they languish in 10th place in the Premier League on 34 points.

Fofana told the Blues website: “On Friday at the training ground I worked on set pieces, the timing of my run, and then I scored. It’s perfect. The injury for four months, it was hard emotionally, but when I scored everything was leaving me.”

Potter, who had waited 48 days to see his team score a goal at Stamford Bridge, added: “It’s really good for the players to win and have that feeling. It gives us confidence... as we prepare for a massive game on Tuesday.”

Chelsea host Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday, needing to claw back a 1-0 first-leg deficit.

They will need to step up a gear to do that but Potter believes Saturday’s goal can be the start of many.

“If you create chances, the goals will come because the quality of the players is there,” he said.

REUTERS, AFP