ENZO FERNANDEZ played the full 90 minutes as Chelsea drew 0-0 with rivals Fulham.
Chelsea spent a staggering £259.1million in the summer before shelling out a further £329.9m in January – including the British record £107m move for Fernandez from Benfica.
- Result:Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
- Chelsea XI: Kepa, James, Silva, Badiashile, Cucurella, Fernandez, Gallagher, Ziyech, Mount, Mudryk, Havertz
- Fulham XI: Leno, Tete, Diop, Ream, Robinson, Palhinha, Reed, Pereira, Decordova-Reid, Willian, Mitrovic
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A result that will feel almost like a win for the away side and a loss for the home team.
The expectation around this new-look Chelsea team was at fever-pitch heading into this game, especially when the news filtered out that both Mudryk and Enzo Fernandez were involved from the start.
But in the end there were familiar failings for Graham Potter’s team as they struggled to create clear goalscoring opportunities at the business end of the pitch – an issue that his Brighton team struggled to overcome.
It was interesting that Potter felt he had to hook Mudryk at half time, replacing him with fellow new boy Noni Madueke as he looked for his team to threaten Fulham more in the final third.
Fofana missed an almost open goal that would have earned all three points for Chelsea so perhaps we shouldn’t be too harsh on the manager when his players squander chances like that.
Fulham though, were well organised and definitely earned the point that they’ll take back with them from Stamford Bridge.
The Cottagers are used to being the inferior team in West London but now they are taking the game to their richer, more historically successful rivals.
Next up for Chelsea is another London derby, this time against David Moyes’ West Ham – neither manager will want to be on the losing side in that one.
Fulham’s next assignment in the Premier League is a home fixture against Nottingham Forest.
Until then, all that’s left for me to say is thanks for joining me tonight and I’ll speak to you next time!
Marco Silva
The Fulham boss has been speaking to the media in the aftermath of tongiht’s game.
We knew it’d be a tough game but to have four points from [a possible] six against Chelsea is fantastic for us.
Marco Silva
Enzo Fernandez
Chelsea’s new record signing looked great in the first half but perhaps tailed off in the second period.
Pressure on Potter
The Chelsea boss is not enjoying himself at the moment.
Graham Potter has struggled to knit his team together since he took over in September and just when it seemed he needed a little continuity his bosses give him more than £300 million worth of new players.
While that doesn’t necessarily sound like a handicap, it certainly gives him a political headache, who to play, who to leave out.
You feel he won’t have too much time left to try and bolt all of these new players onto his team.
Match stats
So much attacking talent on the pitch and nobody able to make the breakthrough.
Full Time: Chelsea 0 – 0 Fulham
It ends all square at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea 0 – 0 Fulham
90+5, Carlos Vinicius what are you doing?
The Fulham striker tries to dribble the ball out of his own penalty area and gets quickly dispossessed.
Chelsea work the ball wide to Raheem Sterling who curls a shot towards the top corner but Leno is equal to it.
Chelsea 0 – 0 Fulham
90+5, Chelsea have a late corner.
Chilwell to take…
Chelsea 0 – 0 Fulham
90+4, One final change for Fulham as Andreas Pereira limps towards the touchline.
Kurzawa is coming on to take his place.
Chelsea 0 – 0 Fulham
90+4, Wilson is shown a yellow card for a cynical foul on Raheem Sterling.
Chelsea 0 – 0 Fulham
90+2, Fulham haven’t given the Chelsea players any time to get their head up whenever they’re in possession.
Marco Silva’s team are working so hard to ensure they leave here with at least a point.
Chelsea 0 – 0 Fulham
90, Two changes for Marco Silva’s men as Carlos Vinicius and Tom Cairney come on for the remaining minutes.
Reed and Mitrovic are removed from the action.
The fourth official holds up his board to show that we’re going to have five minutes of additional time added on here.
Chelsea 0 – 0 Fulham
89, Chelsea are all over the place defensively here.
Fulham players have so much space whenever they receieve the ball between Chelsea’s midfield and defence.
Chelsea 0 – 0 Fulham
87, Three minutes of normal time remaining for either one of these teams to find a late goal that would surely seal all three points.
Chelsea 0 – 0 Fulham
87, Thiago Silva is class.
That’s all I have to say really.
Chelsea 0 – 0 Fulham
85, Marco Silva has been shown a yellow card by referee Stuart Attwell.
Not sure what he did to deserve it but the Fulham boss doesn’t look happy about it.
Chelsea 0 – 0 Fulham
84, Big cheers from the Chelsea fans as Ben Chilwell comes onto the pitch.
Cucurella is the man to make way.
Chelsea 0 – 0 Fulham
83, Tete and Sterling have a little wrestle in the corner.
Sterling eventually barges the Fulham man over and the referee blows for a foul.
That was all a bit strange.
Chelsea 0 – 0 Fulham
80, Ream blocks Fofana’s effort off the line!
Leno makes a poor decision to come off his line, Fofana effortlessly rounds him, cuts inside Diop and has the goal at his mercy.
All he has to do is knock it beyond Ream’s reach but he’s too casual with his finish and the chance is wasted.
Chelsea 0 – 0 Fulham
78, There’s been plenty of huffing and puffing from the Chelsea players in this second half but they’ve not really looked like scoring.
They’ve struggled to find the back of the net with any sort of regularity this season, hence their mid-table position.
Chelsea 0 – 0 Fulham
75, Chelsea also make a change of their own as Fofana takes Mason Mount’s place.
Can he be the man to find a late winner for his new side?
Chelsea 0 – 0 Fulham
75, Couple of changes for Fulham.
De Cordova-Reid and Willian are replaced by Harry Wilson and Manor Solomon.
Willian is applauded off the pitch by both sets of fans, so that’s nice isn’t it?
Chelsea 0 – 0 Fulham
72, So close to a Fernandez screamer!
The ball rolls kindly for the Argentinean to strike from around 35 yards out but his effort just bends wide of the post.
Chelsea 0 – 0 Fulham
70, Mitrovic almost catches Kepa out with a lob from the halfway line!
The Chelsea goalkeeper just gets back in time to claim the ball from under his own crossbar.
That would’ve been crazy.
Chelsea 0 – 0 Fulham
68, Harrison Reed looks to be stretching out his hamstring.
He’s been very good for Fulham tonight.
You know, I used to play with Harrison Reed – really nice lad – could easily have made it as a professional cricketer if he’d wanted to.
Always bizarre to see him playing at this level in the Premier League.
Anyway, back to the game.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
