Chelsea fixtures: Next six games including Dortmund tie after West Ham draw
Graham Potter's Chelsea need a strong run of form as much as anyone, with a poor first half of the season leaving them a long way off the European qualification spots in the Premier League.
However, they couldn't return to winning ways against West Ham, being held to a 1-1 draw and seeing a penalty shout for handball against Tomas Soucek turned away quickly late on in the second half.
They can't afford to solely focus on domestic matters though with the club also still in the Champions League, and triumphing there is their only real hope of lifting a trophy this season.
Here's who they'll have to beat if they're to start turning things around.
On this edition of Son of Chelsea, part of the 90min podcast network, Daniel Childs is joined by Adrian Sousa of Rabona TV to break down the skills of Enzo Fernandez, his impactful spell at Benfica & more.
If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!
Borussia Dortmund vs Chelsea - Champions League
Next up is perhaps Potter's biggest match yet as Chelsea manager, with his side travelling to Dortmund for the first leg of their tie with Jude Bellingham and co.
The German side have been in excellent form in 2023, winning their first five matches of the year to get themselves into the Bundesliga title fight.
Bearing that in mind, they'll fancy their chances of winning the first-ever competitive meeting between the two clubs.
- 15/02/23 - Borussia Dortmund vs Chelsea (20:00) - Champions League
Chelsea vs Southampton - Premier League
Three days after returning home from Germany, Chelsea will play host to the side currently bottom of the Premier League, Southampton.
Bearing in mind how much Nathan Jones' side have been struggling of late, failing to pick up all three points against them would be nothing short of a disaster.
- 18/02/23 - Chelsea vs Southampton (15:00) - Premier League
Tottenham vs Chelsea - Premier League
Things will get trickier after that with a reunion with former manager Antonio Conte on the cards in what is always a fiery London derby.
If they want to keep their slim hopes of a top-four finish alive, Chelsea will have to beat Spurs as they have in four of the last five meetings between the two.
- 26/02/23 - Tottenham vs Chelsea (13:30) - Premier League
Chelsea vs Leeds - Premier League
One of the low points of Chelsea's season came against Leeds, when they lost 3-0 at Elland Road in August, and they'll be aiming to put that right when they meet again in London.
The Yorkshire club will be something of an unknown quantity once they eventually appoint a new manager, but the home side should really be beating them regardless.
- 04/03/23 - Chelsea vs Leeds (15:00) - Premier League
Chelsea vs Borussia Dortmund - Champions League
Attention will then return to this season's Champions League again with BVB travelling to Stamford Bridge for the second leg of the round of 16 clash.
Chelsea have made it past that stage in two of their last three campaigns, and the pressure on Potter will be eased considerably if he can lead them through safely again.
- 07/03/23 - Chelsea vs Borussia Dortmund (20:00) - Champions League
Leicester vs Chelsea - Premier League
Potter has come up against Leicester eight times as a manager and only tasted victory twice, losing on five occasions.
Those two wins did come in his last three matches against the club though, with his Brighton side beating them 5-2 at the start of this season. Given that, he'll fancy his chances of getting the better of Brendan Rodgers again.
- 11/03/23 - Leicester vs Chelsea (15:00) - Premier League
- 15/02/23 - Borussia Dortmund vs Chelsea (20:00) - Champions League
- 18/02/23 - Chelsea vs Southampton (15:00) - Premier League
- 26/02/23 - Tottenham vs Chelsea (13:30) - Premier League
- 04/03/23 - Chelsea vs Leeds (15:00) - Premier League
- 07/03/23 - Chelsea vs Borussia Dortmund (20:00) - Champions League
- 11/03/23 - Leicester vs Chelsea (15:00) - Premier League