Chelsea

Graham Potter was left with a tricky balancing act after the club brought in eight players during the January transfer window. Chelsea were able to register ...

The move has not worked out for either party. Bettinelli has played one game for Chelsea since joining in 2021. Chelsea, who face Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 had selected only 24 players for the group stage and given themselves more wriggle room by selling Jorginho to Arsenal.

Chelsea news: The Blues have had to cut players from their Champions League squad and leave out four new signings.

Players aged 16 may be submitted if they have been registered with the club for the previous two years without interruption." But they have to be patient and be ready to play, perform and help us win." A player such as Lewis Hall, who was not included in the main squad at the start of the season, can be added to the B list. Speaking ahead of the match against Fulham he explained the struggle that making the decision would cause, saying, "Of course, there will be a few awkward questions and conversations, that is the reality of where we are. Given the level of spending and business done it was a tough choice for Potter to make. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has also been removed from the squad to accommodate the three new names.

This weekend's Premier League action begins with the West London derby, as free-spenders Chelsea welcome Fulham to Stamford Bridge.

Two narrow 1-0 defeats to in-form Newcastle United and Spurs wouldn't have harmed their confidence much. And they are just the major permanent ones, we haven't counted the likes of Andrey Santos, David Datro Fofana, and Joao Felix (loan). Big-money high-profile signings, long contracts, and dizzying spending levels, Blues' American owners have truly taken the football world by storm, with heads spinning in the offices of every top club across Europe.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang omitted from Chelseas Champions League squad; Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk and Joao Felix included but Benoit Badiashile not ...

The 33-year-old has not started for Chelsea since their 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal on November 6. Chelsea made eight signings in January for a combined total of £323.3m. Clubs had to inform UEFA of their desired squad changes by 11pm on Thursday, February 2.

Graham Potter has handed Enzo Fernandez his Chelsea debut and Mykhailo Mudryk his full debut as Reece James returns to face Fulham in the Premier League ...

[Enzo Fernandez](/en/teams/profile/enzo-fernandez), who is given his debut by [Graham Potter](/en/teams/profile/graham-potter) at the earliest opportunity, just days after signing for the Blues from Benfica. He is joined in midfield by [Mason Mount](/en/teams/profile/mason-mount) and [Conor Gallagher](/en/teams/profile/conor-gallagher), who retain their places from our last match at Liverpool. [Thiago Silva](/en/teams/profile/thiago-silva) captains the side tonight.

Enzo Fernandez makes his debut appearance and Mykhailo Mudryk earns his first start for Chelsea tonight. Will they help the Blues pick up three points at ...

Can they convert that defensive stability into the second half and keep a clean sheet tonight? Six of Fulham’s eight league defeats this season have been by a single-goal margin, including each the last four. [his move to London rivals Arsenal](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-transfer-news-jorginho-trossard-caicedo-b2273397.html), could make his debut on Friday against Fulham. Chelsea get the game underway and send the ball back to Thiago Silva. Those games all came with four different clubs. Chelsea vs Fulham 3 mins: Chelsea thread the ball into midfield where it comes to Conor Gallagher. Mudryk checks to the left and shoots but sends the effort wide. [Graham Potter ](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/graham-potter)must now [come up with a solution to fit all of his new incomings into the team](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/graham-potter-enzo-fernandez-challenge-premier-league-british-b2274604.html) and help Chelsea improve on their current 10th place standing in the table. [Marco Silva](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/marco-silva) will be hoping to repeat that result having also strengthened his squad in January with the signings of midfielder Sasa Lukic and Arsenal right-back Cedric Soares who moves to Craven Cottage on a loan deal. Chelsea 0-0 Fulham Kick off: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham

Chelsea manager Graham Potter was always going to have a job squeezing new signings in after around $357 million was spent during the January transfer ...

I don’t forget, eight or nine teams in the Premier League sent a letter to the Premier League (for us) to be banned. [https://apnews.com/hub/soccer](https://twitter.com/AP_Sports) and [https://twitter.com/AP_Sports](https://twitter.com/AP_Sports) “What Chelsea do is not my business, I never involve opinions in other clubs because there are regulations, rules, that we have to do. “I don’t understand this part of the business; what you can do, what you cannot do. That happened to us.” “I don’t understand how it’s possible, but it’s not for me to explain how it works.”

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is absent from the squad to face Fulham after also missing out on Chelsea's Champions League squad.

Potter returns to four at the back with Reece James returning from the injury suffered against Bournemouth in December. Graham Potter has made three changes to his Chelsea side for the visit of Fulham to Stamford Bridge. World Cup winner Fernandez comes straight into the side having trained on Thursday after his £106.7million arrival on transfer deadline day.

Chelsea confirm their 25-man squad for the knockout phase of the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League. Signings Joao Felix, Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk are ...

Chelsea play for the first time in nearly two weeks as they welcome Fulham to Stamford Bridge for their first Premier League match following the close of ...

Could get tense soon with Fulham on the attack. WIlson and Solomon come on for Fulham. Badiashile lumps his ball forward out of play and the whistle goes. It's only a matter of weeks since the sides last faced off when Chelsea twice fell behind to fall to a 2-1 defeat to their local rivals. Handball call but Chelsea simply awarded a corner. Badiashile wins it before another call for handball.

Chelsea · 1. Kepa Arrizabalaga · 24. Reece James · 6. Emiliano Thiago Silva · 4. Benoit Badiashile · 32. Marc Cucurella · 23. Conor Gallagher · 5. Enzo Fernandez · 19.

Madueke went to the right and Sterling, stationed on the left, became the latest to try his luck against the tenacious Tete. Bored out of his mind, Mitrovic then tried to score from the halfway line. With 10 minutes left the young Ivorian striker almost won it, racing through and rounding Leno, only for Tim Ream to clear his shot off the line. It was Fernández who sparked one of Chelsea’s better moment of the opening period, his ball over the top sending Mason Mount through to cross for Kai Havertz, who stretched and fired over from close range. The shot was blocked and Palhinha drilled the rebound over. Palhinha picked up yet another booking after cleaning out Mount and there was also the moment when Fulham’s assistant coach, Luis Boa Morte, exchanged some furious words on the touchline with one of Potter’s lieutenants, Björn Hamberg. Fernández was quickly involved, catching the eye with his switches of play, even showing appetite for the battle when he refused to let Aleksandar Mitrovic intimidate him early on. The window had passed by in a blur, eight new players arriving, culminating in the capture of Fernández on deadline day, but whether any of it is going to work is another thing. Reminders of the past jostled with the future. Rustiness did not appear to be a problem for the man pulling the strings for Chelsea in midfield. Does anyone know what Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang plans to get up to when Chelsea face Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 of the Champions League? Being generous, this is merely the start of a rebuild.

Blues' club-record signing Fernandez makes impressive debut but honours even at Stamford Bridge.

[Chelsea](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/4/Chelsea/overview) were held to an entertaining goalless draw by [Fulham](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/34/Fulham/overview) at Stamford Bridge. [Aleksandar Mitrovic](https://www.premierleague.com/players/5879/Aleksandar-Mitrovic/stats) came close with an audacious lob from the halfway line, while Chelsea pushed hard for a late breakthrough. [Southampton](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/20/Southampton/overview) face a tough trip to [Brentford](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/130/Brentford/overview), who are unbeaten in eight Premier League matches, and [Liverpool](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/10/Liverpool/overview) travel to [Wolverhampton Wanderers](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/38/Wolverhampton-Wanderers/overview). [Aston Villa](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/2/Aston-Villa/overview) welcome [Leicester City](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/26/Leicester-City/overview), while victory for [Brighton & Hove Albion](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/131/Brighton-and-Hove-Albion/overview) against [AFC Bournemouth](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/127/Bournemouth/overview) would move the Seagulls to within two points of Spurs in fifth. [Manchester City](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/11/Manchester-City/overview), who face [Tottenham Hotspur](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/21/Tottenham-Hotspur/overview) on Sunday. [Newcastle United](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/23/Newcastle-United/overview) and [Manchester United](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/12/Manchester-United/overview) looking to stay within touching distance of the top. [Everton](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/7/Everton/overview), led by new manager [Sean Dyche](https://www.premierleague.com/managers/8250/Sean-Dyche/overview), taking on leaders [Arsenal](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/1/Arsenal/overview). [West Ham United](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/25/West-Ham-United/overview) side hovering one point above the drop zone, while Man Utd, in fourth, face [Crystal Palace](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/6/Crystal-Palace/overview) at Old Trafford. [David Fofana](https://www.premierleague.com/players/112581/David-Datro-Fofana/stats) was denied a debut goal by [Tim Ream](https://www.premierleague.com/players/4276/Tim-Ream/stats)'s goalline clearance. [Kepa Arrizabalaga](https://www.premierleague.com/players/11373/Kepa-Arrizabalaga/stats) making a fingertip save to deny Fulham's [Andreas Pereira](https://www.premierleague.com/players/10476/Andreas-Pereira/stats). [Enzo Fernandez](https://www.premierleague.com/players/63741/Enzo-Fern%C3%A1ndez/stats) made his Chelsea debut following his [club-record arrival on Deadline Day](https://www.premierleague.com/news/3043376), while [Mykhailo Mudryk](https://www.premierleague.com/players/53991/Mykhailo-Mudryk/stats) started for the first time. [Noni Madueke](https://www.premierleague.com/players/67407/Noni-Madueke/stats) replaced Mudryk for the second half, and in so doing became the 31st player used by Chelsea in the Premier League this season, their most in a campaign since 1996/97.

Enzo Fernandez, the Premier League's record signee, enjoyed a promising debut for Chelsea, though familiar issues in front of goal remain.

[David Datro Fofana](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/301047/david-datro-fofana) went close late on, when he showed skill in rounding goalkeeper [Bernd Leno](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/153765/Bernd-Leno) only for [Tim Ream](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/146290/Tim-Ream) to block his shot on the line. [Enzo Fernandez](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/285450/Enzo-Fernández), the new Premier League record signee who arrived in the final minutes of Tuesday's transfer deadline day. Fulham fans are wrong -- for a start, there are three Premier League sides in west London -- but Fulham remain on top of the pack. That rate is even more shocking when you consider no Premier League club has taken a higher percentage of their shots inside the box over that span (76.4%). will be using this week to train and for his new players to get to know each other before they travel to West Ham for a London derby on Feb. Left out were new boys [Malo Gusto](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/308947/Malo-Gusto) and [Andrey Santos](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/314858/Andrey-Santos), with Joao Felix absent due to a red card on his debut. He failed to convert a diving shot at the back post early on, and then missed again moments later with a turn and volley. Last month, they beat Chelsea 2-1 at Craven Cottage in what was their first Premier League victory over the Blues since March 2006. 11) and Tottenham (Feb. [Highlights and notable moments](#highlights) [Best/worst performers](#bestworst) [Kai Havertz](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/231182/Kai-Havertz) missed a trio of chances in the first half as Chelsea were frustrated by a resolute, counterattacking Fulham side.

After their lavish January spending, a new-look Chelsea side toiled to a goalless draw against west London rivals Fulham, although Enzo Fernandez did ...

The second half was similarly fractious and cagey, with a raft of chances arriving in the latter stages. After Kepa Arrizabalaga had got down expertly to turn a fierce Andreas Pereira strike round the post, the Argentine's long ball played Mason Mount in but Kai Havertz was unable to finish from his cut-back on the stretch. A feisty first half produced few chances, but Enzo was at the heart of the best of them.

Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Fulham FC at Stamford Bridge on February 3, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.

Hakim Ziyech plays a delightful ball over the top to Kai Havertz who lifts it over Leno but his effort rattles the post and goes back into play! The visitors defended superbly - particularly in the second half as they frustrated a Chelsea side eager to kick start a good run of form. The 20-year-old was able to take it around goalkeeper Bernd Leno before striking towards goal but Tim Ream was on hand with a goal-saving clearance. It was the closest the Argentine came to getting his first goal for the club. It was the first warning shot from Marco Silva's side who looked to pose a threat on the counter. Fernandez came close to a dream debut goal after 70 minutes as his whipped effort from distance flew just past the far post.

There were some promising signs of what the future might hold for Chelsea, with several new signings on show and old favourites returning from injury, ...

There was a change at half-time by Potter, with one new arrival making way for another, as Noni Madueke came off the bench to make his Chelsea debut in a straight swap on the left flank. Next up to be left with his head in his hands was David Fofana, who had come on to make his second appearance for Chelsea. The Fulham midfielder was only shown a yellow card following a VAR review, but could count himself doubly lucky it wasn’t his second booking after avoiding censure for a cynical foul on Fernandez in the first half. First he was at full stretch at the back post to meet Mount’s pass across the face of goal, but a crucial touch by Tim Ream altered the flight of the ball at the last moment and prevented the German controlling his effort. Havertz must have been starting to wonder just what he would have to do to get on the scoresheet in this game as he went a whisker away from opening the scoring once again, right on the stroke of half-time. [Enzo Fernandez](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/teams/profile/enzo-fernandez), who was given his debut by [Graham Potter](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/teams/profile/graham-potter) at the earliest opportunity, just days after signing for the Blues from Benfica. [Kai Havertz](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/teams/profile/kai-havertz) and [Hakim Ziyech](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/teams/profile/hakim-ziyech) continued in our attack, but were joined by [Mykhailo Mudryk](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/teams/profile/mykhailo-mudryk), who started his first game for Chelsea after coming off the bench at Anfield. Painfully, though, the ball came back off the top of the near post and spun crazily across the goalmouth before being hooked clear by the visiting defenders. However, for all that we had started to look the most likely to find a breakthrough, it took a brilliant save from Kepa to keep things goalless at the other end. He spun towards goal with his first touch before firing a powerful drive low at goal, but Kepa stretched across to claw it away from the bottom corner. [Thiago Silva](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/teams/profile/thiago-silva) captained the side. [Kepa Arrizabalaga](/en/teams/profile/kepa-arrizabalaga) had produced one impressive save to deny Andreas Pereira, it was the home side who kept coming closest to finding a breakthrough.

Chelsea head coach Graham Potter has said he remains "confident" his side can make a push to qualify for Champions League football next season, d.

"I think you have to look at it all in terms of transfer fees and salaries" Potter said. "That's the challenge, that's what we have to do. I need to focus on the next day, the training session and the next game." "He doesn't know us, we don't know him so well but I think you can see flashes of his quality and personality. "What we need to do now is gel the team," Potter added. When asked if he was confident the team could still qualify for next season's Champions League, Potter said: "I'm confident with the potential we have.

Kepa Arrizabalaga - Pulled off an outstanding save to deny Andreas Pereira in the opening half of the match and was generally composed on the ball under ...

David Datro Fofana- The Premier League debutant so nearly became the hero in the 79th minute. Showed some urgency to get the ball moving up the pitch and some good energy. Mykhailo Mudryk - Showed his impressive speed and an eye for a cute pass but was ultimately less impressive than on his debut. Kai Havertz - It's a game of fine margins as Kai Havertz saw the offside, the ball trickle wide and a lob hit the post. Undoubtedly would have liked to do better with his wayward shot in the first half but looked to provide plenty of threat with first-time passes and produced an outstanding ball for Kai Havertz to hit the post. Conor Gallagher - Benefitted from the presence of Fernandez and looked more comfortable because of it. Presented a challenge as Fulham's midfield split wide of him but was unafraid to try and take over in dictate when Chelsea required a goal in the dying minutes. Battled well against Mitrovic and showed some precision timing to knick the ball away from a plethora of Fulham feet. Showed impressive pace to put pressure on Fulham's breaks and was very strong in the tackle too. 6. Reece James - Quickly added width on the right that Chelsea have missed in his absence and showed some impressive strength in battles against Aleksandar Mitrovic. Kepa Arrizabalaga - Pulled off an outstanding save to deny Andreas Pereira in the opening half of the match and was generally composed on the ball under pressure though one shutdown clearance may have left the Spaniard worried.

Chelsea news: The latest headlines and gossip with updates on Christopher Nkunku, Mykhailo Mudryk after the Blues' Premier League with Fulham.

The initial 25-man list has some noticeable absentees though with Mykhailo Mudryk not appearing. That describes me as a player nicely so I always like playing in this role." Read the full story, [here](https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/news/chelsea-premier-league-squad-confirmed-26145326). "I think that's a position that suits me well," he said. [here](https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/news/christopher-nkunku-chelsea-transfer-potter-26145137).

Chelsea news: The Blues secured their third consecutive Premier League clean sheet on Friday evening but failed to take their chances at Stamford Bridge ...

That feels like a game Potter has to win – along with all the other games he has had to win. Fascinating for the rest of us but an almighty challenge for Potter." The window had passed by in a blur, eight new players arriving, culminating in the capture of Fernández on deadline day, but whether any of it is going to work is another thing. "Todd Boehly, and his fellow king of the Chelsea consortium, Behdad Eghbali, have bet the house on this team, and so nights like these will be uncomfortable. "Enzo Fernandez, British football’s most expensive player, made his debut and the £106 million man must realise it will be a while yet before this Chelsea team plays the way he was doubtless promised it would. They gazed down from the posh seats, waiting in vain for any sign of a spark from Graham Potter’s side, and suffered along with the rest of Stamford Bridge. Fernández was quickly involved, catching the eye with his switches of play, even showing appetite for the battle when he refused to let Aleksandar Mitrovic intimidate him early on. Rustiness did not appear to be a problem for the man pulling the strings for Chelsea in midfield. "He has had his detractors in the past few days, but Fernandez would get his moment to prove why he is rated so highly by his new coach and team-mates. They knew this is the player the club pulled out all the stops to sign was the real deal after all, despite some voices of doubt in recent days. Jacob Steinberg writes: "Perhaps it would have been more interesting if Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali had just stood in the centre circle for 90 minutes, acting out their negotiations with Benfica over Enzo Fernández on deadline day. A goal never really looked like coming for Chelsea with Kai Havertz clipping the post in the first half before David Datro Fofana was denied his first goal since his £10million move from Molde.

Chelsea news: The Blues recorded a third successive clean sheet on Friday evening but were lacklustre in the final third as they were held to a 0-0 draw by ...

Prior to this game, Spurs face a tricky run of fixtures including another London derby with West Ham the week before. Chelsea's toughest league game of this month comes towards the back end with a trip to Antonio Conte's Spurs. It's still a run of just one league win in eight though. Potter is so far unbeaten in the competition with four wins and a draw from his five matches in charge. However, there remains 17 league games for Potter's side to produce a surge to the upper echelon on the table. [ Fernandez made his Chelsea debut in fine fashion with a comfortable display](https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/news/chelsea-enzo-fernandez-aleksandar-mitrovic-26156035) against Fulham on Friday evening, but it was a disappointing evening for Graham Potter's men overall [.

Chelsea news: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was excluded from Graham Potter's Champions League squad for the knockout stages amid continued uncertainty over the ...

However, Potter was quick to rule the rumours out. [Jorginho's £12m move to Arsenal](https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/chelsea-arsenal-jorginho-transfer-confirmed-26133759) opened up a space but Potter was forced to make a number of difficult decisions prior to Friday's deadline. [Mudryk, Fernandez and Felix meant there was no space for Benoit Badiashile and Noni Madueke](https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/news/chelsea-champions-league-squad-felix-26149936). Pierre is just unfortunate and he will be fighting for his place for the rest of the season. "Whichever decision we made there was always going to be a conversation about it but it was my decision. During Chelsea's Premier League clash with Fulham, footage surfaced online of Aubameyang in Milan, sparking claims that the striker had left the country after being left out of the squad. The striker was excluded to allow for three of the club’s January signings to be registered. New signing David Datro Fofana was opted instead and made his Premier League debut in the stalemate. [the Blues](https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/) to their third European title following Todd Boehly's mass January spending. "It was a tough decision, a tough call. [Aubameyang](https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/mikel-arteta-ozil-aubameyang-arsenal-26154277) was the unfortunate figure to be removed to accommodate the three new names amid severe doubts over his future in west London. However, a successful knockout campaign in Europe can secure their place in the competition next season and preparation has already kickstarted for the first encounter against Borussia Dortmund.

Chelsea are set to ask for an exemption to Premier League spending rules despite their lavish outlay since Todd Boehly took ownership of the club.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: The measures were imposed due to the oligarch's links to Vladimir Putin following the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces in February 2022, with Chelsea punished as a result. The Blues have come under plenty of scrutiny for their spending habits, but they are planning on asking for an exemption from the Premier League's spending rules after previous owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the British government last year, according to the Chelsea have splashed more than £600 million ($723m) in the last two transfer windows on 17 new players, including eight in January.