Chelsea head coach Graham Potter said "questions will be asked" about
his expensive signings after his side's patchy run extended to one win
in seven games in all competitions as Fulham deservedly claimed a draw
at Stamford Bridge.
Premier League record signing Enzo Fernandez could not inspire a
victory on his debut as the visitors, who beat Chelsea at Craven Cottage
in January, survived Kai Havertz hitting a post to remain above the
Blues with a clean sheet at Stamford Bridge.
"New players are adapting to a new country and a new league," said
Potter, speaking to BBC Sport after overseeing a total spend of £320
million ($385.6m) in January.
"It’s not straightforward. When the price tag is what it is, questions will be asked – it's the nature of the business."
World Cup winner Fernandez started the game three days after making a
£107m ($129.2m) move from Benfica, only to see the visitors threaten to
beat Chelsea home and away in a league season for the first time in
history as part of a confident performance.
Kepa Arrizabalaga turned Andreas Pereira's swerving shot from the
edge of the penalty area behind and Pereira later had a strike blocked
by Marc Cucurella following incisive work by Willian, who departed to
applause from both sets of fans after helping to ensure Chelsea failed
to score for a fourth time in six matches in all competitions.
Fulham were indebted to Tim Ream when the defender cleared David
Fofana's shot off the line late on after the substitute had shown neat
footwork to deceive Bernd Leno and Issa Diop.
The result ended Fulham's run of two consecutive Premier League
defeats and moved Marco Silva's team up to sixth in the table, a point
above Brighton and four behind fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
Chelsea extended their unbeaten run to three matches and rose to
ninth above Liverpool, nine points shy of the final Champions League
qualification place.
Classy Fernandez no cure-all for Chelsea
In a debut hinting at the reasons why he is such an expensive talent,
Fernandez was at the centre of much of Chelsea's play – and if nothing
else, that will have given the Argentina midfielder an idea of the task
facing him in a team struggling to find an identity.
All the metrics were commensurate with the fee paid for the
22-year-old who has so much staked upon him, coming out on top for
touches, successful tackles, possession and duels won during the first
half, as well as passes from a non-defender.
Unfortunately for the impactful Fernandez and his team, he looked
isolated in a deep-lying role all too often as Chelsea encountered the
familiar problem of finding themselves doing much of their best work in
benign areas of the pitch.
Fulham had four of the seven shots on target and, until they absorbed
increased pressure when the arrivals of Raheem Sterling and Fofana
spurred a late push from Chelsea, had more touches inside the opposition
box.
Havertz and Hakim Ziyech joined Fernandez in sending shots wide
during another misfiring display by Chelsea, who have won twice in their
last 11 games in all competitions and scored five times along the way,
with all but one of those goals coming against teams who were in the
Championship last season.
"We were missing the connection, fluidity and confidence that comes
from knowing each other," said Potter. "We feel we have a very strong
group of players. We have to gel and become a really good team. That’s
where the work is.
"In
football teams, you sometimes need that connection and understanding to
sharpen up the decisions. We just need to gel and improve the team."
Potter added that new £89m ($107.3m) signing Mykhailo Mudryk had been withdrawn at the interval because of a heavy cold.
Fulham keep flying high
While
there was a predictable focus on the vast difference between the value
of these squads in the build-up, Fulham have grander ambitions than
worrying about other teams or themselves this season.
For
a club who have so often made staying in the Premier League seem an
insurmountable challenge, the newly-promoted side are making a mockery
of their previous struggles in this campaign – and there could have been
few complaints had they won this game.
By
now, most viewers are familiar with the energetic creativity of Andreas
Pereira, the revitalised electricity Willian is bristling with and the
battering ram ruthlessness of Aleksandar Mitrovic, a striker carrying
such confidence that he almost embarrassed Kepa from near the halfway
line here.
What
stood out most was the discipline and nous of Fulham, holding their
shape and reining in their attacking instincts while more than playing
their part in a game that was frequently end-to-end because of their
counter-attacking speed and sharpness.
"It’s
a team game," captain Ream told Sky Sports, his words sounding a little
like they could have been designed to emphasise Chelsea's current
shortcomings.
"We work on it every week. Defend from the front and attack from the back. It takes all 11 guys and the ones coming on.
"It
was a fantastic team performance. We can be very proud of coming away
with a point and, maybe, a bit disappointed not to get more.
"I’m
happy to keep a clean sheet and be in the right place at the right
time. To preserve a point and a clean sheet makes it even better."
| |
1H |
2H |
Final |
| Chelsea |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Fulham |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Goals:
Chelsea vs. Fulham live updates, highlights from Premier League
Full-time: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
It finishes all-square! Chelsea had one final chance, Raheem Sterling
curling a cross towards the far post from the edge of the penalty area
on the left which Bernd Leno gathered comfortably.
That would have been harsh on Fulham, had they not earned a point.
They haven't managed to do the double over Chelsea for the first time
ever in a league season, but they fully deserve the four points they've
taken off these opponents this season, remaining above them with this
point.
We'll have a report and analysis above these updates shortly. Thanks for following our live blog tonight!
93 mins: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Andreas Pereira limps off, to be replaced by Layvin Kurzawa. Then
Chelsea win a corner on their right, and Chilwell jogs over to take it.
This would be some comeback by the full-back if he can set up a goal.
88 mins: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Fulham's all-action display is somewhat personified by head coach
Marco Silva, who is booked for offering some choice-looking words to an
official.
84 mins: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Ben Chilwell comes on for Marc Cucurella, who looks crestfallen as he takes his place on the Chelsea bench.
It's brighter news for Chilwell, who's making his first appearance since being ruled out of England's World Cup squad.
79 mins: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Chelsea could be ahead! First, Conor Gallagher sends a low shot
narrowly wide of the near post from outside the penalty area on the
right.
Then David Fofana, on as a substitute, reaches a Raheem Sterling pass
inside the penalty area on the same side, passing the advanced Bernd
Leno and cutting inside to deceive Issa Diop.
Tim Ream, who has raced back and predicted where Fofana is going to
aim for, does superbly to clear the resulting shot off the line.
77 mins: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Fulham have had four of the five shots on target and 18 of the 30 touches inside the opposition box by both sides combined.
75 mins: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Fulham make two changes, Bobby Decordova-Reid making way for Manor Soloman and Willian coming off for Harry Wilson.
Both players receive deserved standing ovations and it sounds like Chelsea fans are showing respect to their former winger.
73 mins: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
This is a promising spell for Chelsea. Mason Mount turns on the edge
of the penalty area on the right - in a similar position to the one from
which Enzo Fernandez shot wide a moment ago - and sees his low shot
blocked by Tim Ream.
Mount grimaces. Chelsea look frustrated.
72 mins: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Fulham make two changes, Bobby Decordova-Reid making way for Manor Soloman and Willian coming off for Harry Wilson.
Both players receive deserved standing ovations and it sounds like Chelsea fans are showing respect to their former winger.
73 mins: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
This is a promising spell for Chelsea. Mason Mount turns on the edge
of the penalty area on the right - in a similar position to the one from
which Enzo Fernandez shot wide a moment ago - and sees his low shot
blocked by Tim Ream.
Mount grimaces. Chelsea look frustrated.
72 mins: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Almost a debut goal for Enzo Fernandez! The midfielder has had a fine
game for a toiling Chelsea side, and he arrows a bouncing shot just
wide of the far post from outside the penalty area on the right.
Bernd Leno was beaten there.
70 mins: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Nervy moment for Kepa! Aleksandar Mitrovic tries his luck from an
outlandish distance to the left of centre, lobbing in a shot that's
heading towards the roof of the net.
The effort doesn't have the speed to completely beat the goalkeeper, who backtracks in time to claim it.
67 mins: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Another booking: Bobby Decordova-Reid holds firmly on to Raheem
Sterling's arm for what seems like an age, giving Stuart Attwell little
option but to caution him.
66 mins: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Chelsea win a corner on their right. Cesar Azpilicueta bowls it over for Conor Gallagher to take it.
Gallagher's cross is successful this time, but Thiago Silva can't
make anything meaningful of it, and Bernd Leno collects his header with
ease.
65 mins: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Bobby Decordova-Reid tries to win a corner off Kai Havertz inside the
penalty area on the right following Fulham's free-kick after that Conor
Gallagher foul. He doesn't get it.
63 mins: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Conor Gallagher is booked for a really clumsy tackle on Andreas Pereira beyond the halfway line inside Chelsea's half.
61 mins: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Hakim Ziyech has had a funny week, what with that near-miss on a move
to PSG on Tuesday. He's been lively but inaccurate tonight, ending in
his replacement by Raheem Sterling, who waits in vain for a cross from
the right to reach him at the far post, with Kenny Tete clearing again.
Cesar Azpilicueta is also on, supplanting Reece James.
58 mins: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Fulham flourish on the counter-attack. Willian nears the edge of the
penalty area on the left, then lays the ball off to Andreas Pereira on
the inside.
Marc Cucurella blocks Willian's shot, then Joao Palhinha wastes his
good work in recovering the ball by thumping an effort over the
crossbar.
55 mins: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Kenny Tete does excellently to head a dangerous cross from Reece
James behind in the nick of time after the full-back enters the penalty
area on the right and sends his delivery towards the far post on the
overlap.
Conor Gallagher then makes a hash of the resulting corner from the
left, looking despondent after failing to beat the first man with his
cross.
52 mins: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
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