Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Enzo Fernandez got his first taste of English Premier League football in a goalless draw against his new club's visiting neighbors Fulham in a lively but disappointing Friday night derby.
 |
| Chelsea's new signing Enzo Fernandes |photo|Courtesy| |
It's only a matter of weeks since the sides last faced off when Chelsea twice fell behind to fall to a 2-1 defeat to their local rivals. Joao Felix got sent off against the cottages to add a real sting to the evening and the on-loan star remains unavailable for the return leg.
Fulham recorded back-to-back defeats to Newcastle and Tottenham following their win over Chelsea and come into the match with the additions of Sasa Lukic and Cedric Soares to Marco Silva's squad.
The world cup-winning midfielder, which cost Chelsea a whooping £107million from Benfica, looked comfortable and showed touches of class spraying pinpoint passes and timing his tackles meticulously.
Many new signings played for Potter as starters and substitutes; not just Enzo, Benoit Badiashile, Mykhailo Mudryk, David Datro Fofana, and Noni Madueke, form who was also a debut. There were returns from injury for James Reece and Ben Chilwell. This draw means it is two wins for Chelsea in their last eight Premier League games.
Chelsea's co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali felt the effects of gravity once again as they watched another poor display after pulling off one of the greatest-ever football heists.
"What a waste of money," chanted the Fulham supporters who gleefully mocked Chelsea's world record 2022-2023 transfer spend that, at over £600million, was more than they have spent since 2001.
Potter reacts to Mudryk's decision
Graham Potter said a "heavy cold" was behind Mykhailo Mudryk's substitution at half-time during Chelsea's draw with the west London rivals Fulham.
Mudryk endured a difficult 45 minutes against Fulham and he had the fewest touches of any outfield player (19) - all of which proved ineffective.
Of Mudryk's fitness, Potter said " He's had a heavy cold this week and he was feeling heavy-legged."
