British record signing Enzo Fernandez made his Chelsea debut but could not help his new side claim just their second win of 2023 as they were held by Fulham at Stamford Bridge.
Argentina midfielder Fernandez completed a £107m move to the Blues from Benfica three days ago and Graham Potter opted to give him an immediate start.
He made a solid impression and almost enjoyed a dream debut when his curling effort in the second half flew just wide of the post.
Kai Hawartz also went close before the break when his lob attempt from Hakeem Zech’s superb pass clipped the woodwork before clearing the ball off the line, while debutant David Dutru Fofana was mis-footed. After showing great control, a late shot was cleared off the line. Goalkeeper
But overall Chelsea didn’t do enough to secure a win as they again struggled to create real scoring chances, finishing the game with just three shots on target.
Fulham thoroughly deserved the point after a brilliant defensive display and moved up to sixth in the table, three places and two points above Chelsea.
New faces, same problems for Chelsea
Chelsea owner Todd Buhly spent big during January, spending £288m, eclipsing the £270m he spent in the summer, to ensure Potter has players for the second half of the season. Push to reach the top four.
The biggest purchase was Fernandez. The World Cup winner has enjoyed a huge rise since his £8.8m move from River Plate to Benfica last summer and was snapped up by Chelsea to bolster their midfield.
He provided a hint of what was to come against Fulham, leading the statistics for the most touches (59) and most tackles (five) of any other player in the first half. , and came as close as anyone to breaking the deadlock with him. Shot from outside the box in the second half.
Fellow January arrivals Mihailo Modric, Benoit Badechile, Noni Madiuke and Fofana also featured in the game and while they had varying degrees of impact, Chelsea’s long-standing problems in front of goal were once again exposed. .
It took more than an hour for the hosts to manage a shot on target, with the Blues – who started the game without a traditional striker – falling short in the final third.
Fofana suggested during his short time on the pitch that he could improve on beating the goalkeeper late on, before his effort was cleared by Tim Reim, but he has now Has scored just two goals in his last six matches – a statistic that needs to be looked at. To improve quickly if they want to move up the table.
An impressive away display
Fulham have been phenomenal since the World Cup, winning more games than any other team in the Premier League, and this performance highlighted why they are a serious threat to finish in the European places. are
Marco Silva’s side were disciplined in form, frustrating the hosts as they struggled to find a way through the defence, and were themselves a threat in attack.
A little more conviction from Willian and Bobby de Córdoba Reed with their shots in the second half and they could have come away with the win, but it was a very solid point that keeps the Blues at the bottom of the table.
