Graham Potter sees Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Leeds United as “something to build on” ahead of a “massive” Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund.
Wesley Fofana’s first Premier League goal relieved pressure on head coach Potter after a winless run of 11 games.
Chelsea had gone three games without scoring before stopping the rot against relegation-threatened Leeds at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
The Blues face Dortmund at home in the Champions League on Tuesday, needing to overcome a 1-0 deficit to advance to the quarter-finals.
Potter hopes a much-needed win over lowly Leeds will just be the start.
He told BBC Sport: “I’m delighted for the players and supporters. We’ve had to suffer. It’s been a challenging period. I thought we played well in the first half and attacked well.
“We were a team who had something to lose so it was great character from the players, they cared and showed togetherness in the team. It gives us something to build on.
“People care. Players want to win and supporters want us to do well, 1-0 in the Premier League, anything can happen, when you consider the run we’re on, it’s not surprising [there were nerves]. The players fought for the win and it allows us to keep moving forward.”
“We just have to focus on the game,” Potter said of the match against Dortmund. You have no control over the noise outside. It’s a huge game and a huge opportunity for us. We must fight for it.
“Every game is important. It boosts both confidence and morale. On Tuesday, we have a big game.”
Potter praised Fofana, who secured all three points on his return to the team with a towering header from Ben Chilwell’s corner.
The former Brighton and Hove Albion boss said: “Wesley Fofana has been a big miss for us. He’s one of the players who has been out for a while.
“He is physical, brave with the ball and does what he does well in the box which is attack the ball. It gave us a win.”