signing a record in Britain When Enzo Fernandez made his Chelsea debut, Fulham held them at Stamford Bridge, preventing Chelsea from earning only their second victory of 2023.
Three days after completing a £107 million transfer from Benfica to the Blues, Argentina midfielder Fernandez was given his first start by Graham Potter.
He made a good first impression and came close to having a dream debut in the second half, but his curled shot missed the post.
Before the break, Kai Havertz also came within inches of scoring when his lobbed effort from Hakim Ziyech’s brilliant pass clipped the woodwork before the ball was cleared off the line. Debutant David Datro Fofana also had a late shot blocked after displaying excellent control to trick the goalkeeper.
With only three shots on goal at the end of the game, Chelsea ultimately fell short of securing the victory as they once again struggled to generate genuine scoring opportunities.
After a fantastic defensive performance, Fulham earned every single point they received and moved up to sixth place in the standings, three spots and two points ahead of Chelsea.
Same Problems, Different Faces for Chelsea
To make sure Potter has the players to challenge for a top-four finish in the second half of the season, Chelsea owner Todd Boehly made large purchases in January, with the £288 million investment surpassing the £270 million invested in the summer.
Fernandez was the largest acquisition. The World Cup champion has seen a spectacular rise since joining Benfica from River Plate for £8.8 million last summer. Chelsea purchased him to bolster their midfield.
In the first half, he had the most touches (59) and tackles (five) of any player, giving an early indication of what to expect from him. In the second half, his shot from beyond the box came the closest to ending the score.
comparable January arrivals In addition to Mykhailo Mudryk, Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke, and Fofana, who all played in the match, Chelsea’s persistent goal-scoring problem was once more exposed.
The hosts were unable to register a shot on goal for well over an hour, while the Blues, who started the game without a regular striker, struggled mightily in the final third.
They have scored just two goals in their last six games, a statistic that needs to change quickly if they are to move higher up the table. Fofana gave the impression that he could improve that during his brief time on the field by expertly rounding the goalkeeper late in the game before his goal-bound effort was cleared by Tim Ream.
An outstanding away performance
With more victories in the Premier League since the World Cup than any other team, Fulham has been outstanding. This performance demonstrated why they pose a significant danger to finish in the European spots.
The hosts were frustrated by Marco Silva’s team’s ability to maintain their form and frustrate them as they attempted to break through the defense while also posing a danger on offense.
They might have won if Willian and Bobby De Cordova-Reid had fired with a little more conviction in the second half, but this was a very strong point that keeps the Blues below them in the standings.
Best player in the game
