03 February 2023 , 22:52
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Graham Potter was quietly impressed with Enzo Fernandez's debut and revealed Mykaylo Mudryk was taken off at half-time as a precaution.
After a month where Chelsea ’s off-field activity was rarely out of the headlines, this was the first chance for Graham Potter’s richly-assembled squad to make some on it. But despite the presence of Britain’s most expensive ever player Fernandez, and £88m-man Mudryk, the Blues failed to break down Fulham.
The Cottagers did far more than just park the bus at Stamford Bridge as well, registering four shots on target to Chelsea’s one. But it was probably the hosts that had the better chances, with Kai Havertz hitting the post and David Datro Fofana seeing a shot cleared off the line.
But the 0-0 draw was more evidence that for all of the £332m spent in the January window, a lack of a number nine could still hold them back.
Fernandez, just two days after his deadline day beating move was ratified, was straight into the starting lineup and showed glimpses as to why Chelsea fought all month to sign him. The World Cup winner almost toasted a positive debut with a stunning goal, but saw his second-half shot go narrowly wide.
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Mudryk meanwhile struggled to build on the brilliant cameo he put in on his debut at Liverpool last month. The Ukraine international is still getting up to full speed after a lengthy break and flickered in and out before being removed at the break.
Enzo Fernandez and Mykaylo Mudryk both made their full Chelsea debuts against FulhamPotter admitted that while his new signings still needed time to gel, particularly the recently arrived Fernandez, he saw positive signs against Fulham.
“There’s disappointment because we didn’t win of course,” he told Sky Sports. “We could all sense the excitement and positivity in the team, but you have to credit Fulham because they are a well organised defensive unit.
“We at times we did well, at times you saw the lack of connection you’d expect with a few guys coming back from injury or being integrated into the team. It’s where we are at the moment, but things to work forward and things to improve.”
Chelsea boss Graham Potter said his side still looked like one trying to find connections with one another (Sky Sports)On Fernandez’s performance specifically, Potter added: ““Really good, considering he’s been in the country not very long. He doesn’t know us, we don’t know him so well but I think you can see flashes of his quality and personality. He’ll get better and better.”
And as for Mudryk coming off the break, the Chelsea boss admitted that a pre-match illness twinned with the fact they are still ramping up his minutes, meant the plan was never for him to play the full 90.
Asked whether he felt there was a drop-off in Mudryk's levels he explained: "It's always that way with young players, he has had a really heavy cold this week. He’s suffered a bit with that and felt a bit heavy legged and we didn’t want to take any risks with him. We’re still in the process of building up his minutes, he’s had a long break and that was the decision there.”