Premier League, Chelsea 0-0 Fulham. Enzo Fernandez does not disappoint

For now, progress is enough. The new Chelsea play a great game at Stamford Bridge against Fulham, in the first of Enzo Fernandez and the new era, but they don’t go beyond the 0-0 draw against Marco Silva’s team, confirming all the offensive problems that have limited them to 22 goals in 21 games and keep them well away from the Champions League area. Better to enjoy Enzo then, immediately protagonist, and the general feeling that this is another team, with another step compared to the one that has stammered up to now. Fulham, who keep 2 points more than Chelsea in the standings (32 against 30), interrupt the series of two defeats and confirm themselves as a very difficult team, much better than that level of salvation that the coach keeps asking of them.

THE KEYS

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Enzo Fernandez’s first half is the hopeful sign Chelsea need. The most expensive signing in the history of the English market takes 10′ to take the Blues’ midfield and dominate it: decisive in tackling, quick to read the game, illuminating with his passes, good at doing simple things and even better at complicated ones . In the second half, his impact diminished, as expected, but he immediately seemed like the right man to “build on for today and tomorrow”, as Potter said. Badiashile was also impressive, central defender next to the immortal Thiago Silva, the best of the new players. Chelsea, who have found James after more than a month’s injury, looked comfortable in Potter’s 4-3-3, with Enzo first and then Gallagher managing him. The problem remains up front, where Havertz moves a lot but remains light, where Mudryk blocked the first as starter and where the returning Sterling, the rookie Madueke and Datro Fofana, the one who went closest to scoring, moved well in the second half . It wasn’t enough to score, to bend Fulham, who were fielded in a big way and ready to suffer as Silva asked them to. It is on this ability to play as a team, with ex Willian and Tete in evidence, that Fulham have built their extraordinary season.

THE MATCH

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The first half lights up when Fernandez levels up. After 10′ of acclimatization, Enzo takes over the game, inspiring the best chances for Chelsea. Fulham were up to it, although before the break they were shaking for the post which Havertz lobbed in to get past Leno. It starts again from 0-0, with Potter replacing the dull Mudryk with Madueke, another novelty on the market. The attack is more alive, especially after fifteen minutes when Sterling and Datro Fofana also enter: the former Molde in the 79th minute swallows the Fulham defense, including goalkeeper Leno, but Ream saves on the line. Chelsea insists, but the goal doesn’t come. For now, the positive signs will suffice.