January 13 – João Félix was sent off on his Chelsea debut as his new team lost 2-1 at Fulham in the Premier League on Thursday, heaping even more pressure on manager Graham Potter.
Felix, who had been the best player on the pitch until his straight red card, was dismissed in the 58th minute for a studs-up challenge just 24 hours after joining on loan from Atletico Madrid.
He will now be out until February 11 and will miss league games against Crystal Palace, Liverpool and the return game with Fulham.
Félix joined on a deal costing Chelsea a reported £11 million for just a few months until the end of the season but the club have now slumped to a sixth defeat in its last eight matches in all competitions — its worst run for nearly 30 years.
Chelsea stayed in 10th place, 19 points off leaders Arsenal having played one game more. A top-four finish to qualify for the Champions League is looking more and more unlikely though Chelsea can in part apportion blame to an extensive injury list with some 10 players missing.
“It is another blow. The hits keep coming at the moment, that’s how it is,” said Potter, touted as the most coveted English coach when he took over from the sacked Thomas Tuchel.
“He (Félix) was really good, you could see his quality in the game, so it is doubly disappointing for us.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734850823labto1734850823ofdlr1734850823owedi1734850823sni@w1734850823ahsra1734850823w.wer1734850823dna1734850823