raham Potter can not catch a break, and on Thursday night time was left bemoaning “everything that can go wrong is going wrong”, after Chelsea’s first defeat by Fulham since 2006.
The membership’s worst run of League type since 1996 has left Chelsea tenth within the Premier League, 10 factors off fourth-placed Manchester United, who’ve a recreation in hand, and dealing with a trophyless season, after being knocked out of each home cups.
The defeat left two huge questions for the Blues’ new homeowners: how for much longer can this proceed and is Potter actually the appropriate man for this job? On Thursday, the under-siege boss may solely watch on helplessly, as new signing Joao Felix was despatched off on his debut for a reckless deal with simply wanting the hour-mark, with the rating at 1-1.
1 / 4 of an hour later, Carlos Vinicius’s header claimed the spoils for Fulham. The Craven Cottage stands had been bouncing after a win that lifted Fulham into sixth place after their fourth straight League win.
For Chelsea, the boos that rang out from the away finish on the ultimate whistle — lower than half of the squad would acknowledge the Blues’ help – had been a transparent indicator of the temper amongst a fanbase not accustomed to such ache in latest instances. The calls to sack Potter proceed and, though the homeowners publicly proceed to help his management, the rancour from the stands will get louder with every defeat.
Potter made a daring choice to provide Felix his debut, regardless of him arriving within the nation only a day earlier than the match and finishing only one coaching session. The 23-year-old seemed prone to reward his supervisor with a trendy efficiency. After simply eight minutes of watching his tips, flicks and pictures on objective, Chelsea followers started singing about their mortgage signing from Atletico Madrid.
It breathed life into Chelsea, regardless that former Blues winger Willian scored a deflected objective halfway by means of the primary half.
The Blues equalised early within the second half by means of a scrappy Kalidou Koulibaly objective, with Felix threatening to be the match-winner. However, with the Blues pushing to win the match, their star man noticed pink for a two-footed deal with on Kenny Tete. Felix’s second of insanity swung momentum again the Cottagers’ means and Vinicius’s 73rd-minute header settled the derby.
Dejected: Chelsea are within the midst of their worst run of Premier League type since 1996
/ Getty PicturesChelsea’s new signing will likely be suspended for 3 matches, whereas to make issues worse their damage disaster worsened when Denis Zakaria got here off with a quad drawback within the second half, making it 12 gamers now unavailable on the Bridge.
Chelsea are weighing up additional attacking signings, with Borussia Monchengladbach ahead Marcus Thuram and PSV winger Noni Madueke being mentioned.
After spending £300million on transfers, the enterprise seems extra determined by the day. Chelsea don’t have anything to indicate for his or her outlay and, regardless of Thursday night time’s misfortune, might want to work a means out of their disaster.
This stage of “pain” and “suffering” — as Potter put it after the match — was not within the plan of the brand new Boehly-Clearlake homeowners once they took over. As one membership in west London is in disaster, nevertheless, one other celebrates its most joyful top-flight season in latest reminiscence. Fulham boss Marco Silva saluted match-winner Vinicius, who joined the membership from Benfica for £5m final summer season.
After spending £300million on transfers already, Chelsea’s enterprise seems extra determined by the day
“It was his best display,” Silva stated. “The confidence he had was important. He scored the winner in a special match. It is tough to be in the shadow of a top striker like (Aleksandar) Mitrovic.”
Fulham confirmed they’re about far more than high scorer Mitrovic, who missed the sport by means of suspension, as their new boys performed starring roles. Andreas Pereira provided the winner, Joao Palhinha competed nicely in midfield and goalkeeper Bernd Leno dealt with his workload competently. The identical compliments can’t be paid to Chelsea’s latest additions.
