04 February 2023 , 00:00
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Chelsea owner Todd Boehly was seemingly less than impressed with the way his side performed during their 0-0 home draw against local rivals Fulham on Friday night.
Blues boss took the opportunity to hand some of the plethora of new recruits (all purchased with the help of Boehly) their Chelsea debut, but no one managed to take the game by the scruff of the neck. Enzo Fernandez is the most expensive signing in Premier League history after the West Londoners forked out £105million for him, but he could only do so much.
The Argentine was certainly the main attraction having been thrust into the limelight and starting line-up just three days after signing for the club. Mykhaylo Mudryk was also named in the starting line-up for the first time, but was hauled off after just 45 minutes.
He was replaced by Noni Madueke, who was certainly an improvement on Mudryk but also failed to create much of note over the course of the second-half.
Another January signing in David Fofana could have won the game late on after rounding Fulham 'keeper Bernd Leno, but saw his goal-bound effort blocked by Tim Ream on the line.
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To say Chelsea should have won the game would be harsh on a Fulham side who gave as good as they got against a side that spent an astonishing £323m last month alone.
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It is because of that figure that there is huge expectation on Chelsea to turn things around, but Boehly cut a concerned figure as he watched the expensive side he helped assemble stumble to a 0-0 draw at home.
Gary Neville commentated on the clash and he was seemingly equally unimpressed with the way the hosts played, dubbing the Blues' attack 'toothless' after the game.
"Well Chelsea, the money spent has obviously been their headline in the last week, the team and Graham Potter have got a lot of work to do to make them into a unit," Neville told Sky Sports after the full-time whistle.
"Enzo Fernandez, he did well, it was a tough game for him, but I think the real highlight tonight for me was the defensive spirit, shape and structure of Fulham.
"Marco Silva’s team were absolutely outstanding and made it difficult for Chelsea. Chelsea toothless in attack, which is a real problem for them."
The result leaves Potter's Blues side languishing as low as ninth in the Premier League table, nine points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester United having played one game more than the Red Devils.
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