The Blues’ head coach offered an update on the availability of new Portuguese signing Joao Felix, a player the manager believes could help the team.
What did Potter say about Joao Felix?
The Portuguese player joined Chelsea from Atlético Madrid on Wednesday in a £10m ($12m) loan deal. Asked if Joao Felix could play in their derby against the Cottagers on Thursday – just a day after signing – the Chelsea manager admitted the Blues’ long list of injuries meant appearances could not be ruled out.
The Chelsea head coach told reporters that injuries may have sharpened the focus a bit. According to Graham Potter, it was good to get him in practice today and they will see about the game on Thursday. Joao Felix is a quality player who can make the difference in the final third of an innings. Joao Felix is young but still has experience. From a physical point of view, he can enter. It’s always a bit of an unknown period as the Portuguese goes from one club to another, but that’s on a case by case basis.
On the contribution of the Portuguese player to the Graham team admitted that they are not at their best. Players hurt like everyone else. Potter thinks they should fix the team. It’s not just one person who needs to solve problems. They have to attack better, create more chances. Graham Potter says that Joao Felix is a talented player who can help the team.
A little about the topic
Joao Felix became the Blues’ fourth signing of the January window along with David Datro Fofana, Andrey Santos and Benoit Badiashile and it looks like their winter business is not over yet. Chelsea are currently down in tenth place in the league, having recorded just 20 goals in 17 matches, with Joao Felix to add some much needed firepower to Graham’s front line.
Until Graham has ruled out the possibility, it is doubtful that the Portuguese will start against the Cottagers. If Joao Felix isn’t thrown straight in, he could instead make his full debut against the Eagles on Sunday.
Amid a long list of injuries, the Chelsea manager chose to start the Portuguese against Fulham on Thursday, just a day after he signed for Atlético Madrid.
How was everything?
In a desperate attempt to make up the ground in the top four race, Graham filed an XI against the Cottagers – who sit three places and three points above Chelsea in the PL – which included their recent acquisition Joao, who had signed a six-month loan deal less than 24 hours prior.
The immediate introduction of the Portuguese player speaks to the ongoing injury issues that have plagued Potter’s side. Christian Pulisic and Raheem Sterling were the latest additions to a long list of injuries that currently consists of nine first-team players, the last of whom could go out for a couple of months with a knee problem. Joao, meanwhile, is throwing himself straight into the PL, having played 73 minutes of Atlético’s La Liga match against Barca just three days before.
What happens after that for the Blues?
The Blues can’t afford to drop more points in the league if they want to keep their weak four hopes. Chelsea lead Crystal Palace on the Sunday before traveling to Anfield to face the Reds on 21 January.