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All that money couldn't buy a goal against Fulham: Social media roasts big-spending Chelsea after embarrassing result

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4th February, 2023
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Money couldn’t buy Chelsea a win after the big-spending side suffered an embarrassing scoreless draw against Fulham on Friday, and football fans have flocked to social media to have a dig at the side.

The most expensive player in British football history, Enzo Fernandez, made his debut three days after joining the Blues for a staggering £106.8 million ($A189 million) Premier League record fee on transfer deadline day. He made a tidy first appearance for his new club but was unable to celebrate with a win.

Chelsea lacked a cutting edge, with Kai Havertz hitting the post in the first half of a stalemate at Stamford Bridge.

A point keeps Fulham above the Blues in the table and struck another blow to their neighbour’s hopes of securing a top-four finish.

Chelsea were disjointed in the first half with a new-look side needing time to gel and Andreas Pereira almost put Fulham in front with a powerful right-footed drive that was tipped around the post by Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Tim Ream got a slight touch on Mason Mount’s pass to prevent Havertz from converting at full stretch and the Germany international endured more frustration just before the break.

Hakim Ziyech, who saw a deadline-day move to Paris Saint-Germain fall through, picked Havertz out with a brilliant pass and his lob over Bernd Leno came back off the post.

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Mykhaylo Mudryk was replaced by fellow new boy Noni Madueke at half-time after a disappointing first start, but Chelsea continued to lack fluency.

Fernandez was just off target with a long-range right-footed strike after an audacious attempted lob from Aleksandar Mitrovic had Kepa scrambling back to claim on his line.

Conor Gallagher fired wide and Ream cleared David Datro Fofana’s shot off the line after he rounded a stranded Leno on a frustrating evening for Chelsea.

Fulham boss Marco Silva hailed his side’s shape and organisation after seeing them take four points off Chelsea this season following last month’s 2-1 home win.

“It’s everything we have been doing this season, last season as well. Our standards always have to be there, we knew that it would be a very tough game again,” Silva told Sky Sports.

“To take four points in six from Chelsea like we have done, it’s a fantastic achievement by ourselves, but we respect all the players in the same way.

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“Our shape and organisation two weeks ago against Tottenham (losing 1-0), different situation, but that’s been our behaviour all season.”

Social media was a buzz with digs and memes directed at Chelsea. including a tweet from English player Gary Lineker that read: “If Chelsea are prepared to spend big in the summer they could become a threat.”

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Chelsea boss Graham Potter admitted his new-look side lacked cohesion, but added there were positive things to build on.

Potter told Sky Sports: “There’s disappointment because we didn’t win, of course, and we could all sense the excitement and the positivity, there was definitely that in the team.

“You have to credit Fulham because they’re a well-organised defensive unit.

“We did quite well at times and at other times you could see the lack of connection you’d expect from a team that’s got a few guys coming back from injury or being integrated into the team.

“It is where we’re at at the moment, but things to take forward and things to improve.”

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