Potter calls for patience after Fulham frustrate new-look Chelsea

Enzo
Fernandez
started
at
Stamford
Bridge
three
days
after
making
a
Premier
League
record
£106.8million
(€121m)
move
from
Benfica,
while
Mykhaylo
Mudryk
was
replaced
by
fellow
new
boy
Noni
Madueke
at
half-time
on
a
frustrating
evening
for
the
Blues.

Kai
Havertz
hit
the
post
in
the
first
half
and
David
Datro
Fofana
–
another
of
a
raft
of
new
Chelsea
signings
–
had
an
effort
cleared
off
the
line
by
Tim
Ream.

Fulham
were
good
value
for
a
point
that
keeps
them
above
their
ninth-placed
neighbours
in
sixth
spot.

Chelsea
were
disjointed,
understandably
lacking
fluency
following
the
arrival
of
so
many
new
players,
and
head
coach
Potter
says
they
will
need
time
to
build
an
understanding.

64
–
Graham
Potter
has
made
64
changes
to
Chelsea’s
starting
XI
in
his
15
Premier
League
games
in
charge
so
far,
the
second-most
in
a
manager’s
first
15
games
in
charge
of
a
club
in
Premier
League
history,
behind
only
his
predecessor
Thomas
Tuchel
at
Chelsea
(66).
Tinkerman.

pic.twitter.com/9YjStJM1vI

—
OptaJoe
(@OptaJoe)

February
3,
2023

He
told
BBC
Sport:
“There
was
a
lot
of
excitement
and
positivity
from
the
start,
a
good
atmosphere.
The
spirit
of
the
players
was
really
good.
They
worked
hard
for
each
other
against
an
organised
team.

“They’ve
been
together
a
while.
We’re
a
different
stage
of
that
–
players
coming
back
from
injury
and
new
players.
We
needed
time
to
settle
everything
down.
We
were
missing
the
connection,
fluidity
and
confidence
that
comes
from
knowing
each
other.

“The
decision
we
took
in
the
window,
you
can
see
the
profile
in
terms
of
age.
We
feel
we
have
a
very
strong
group
of
players.
We
have
to
gel
and
become
a
really
good
team.
That’s
where
the
work
is.

“It’s
working
together.
When
players
have
been
injured,
they
have
not
been
on
the
training
pitch.
We
have
new
players
with
us.
It’s
about
getting
ideas
across
and
working
with
the
group.

“Sometimes
you
have
to
look
at
the
whole
package.
Young
players,
nice
mix
of
them
both.
For
us,
it’s
about
improving.

“New
players
are
adapting
to
a
new
country
and
a
new
league.
It’s
not
straightforward.
When
the
price
tag
is
what
it
is,
questions
will
be
asked,
it’s
the
nature
of
the
business.”

The
return
from
injury
of
Reece
James
and
Ben
Chilwell
was
a
big
plus
for
Chelsea,
while
Potter
revealed
winger
Mudryk
was
withdrawn
after
struggling
with
a
cold
this
week.