Fulham should feel flattered. For the first time under the watch of Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea’s starting XI included all six of the illustrious signings from the summer, the £222 million-worth of talent who were the new head coach’s handsome canvas, and his challenge, when he inherited the job. Tuchel was delighted with each: with Édouard Mendy for three high-class first-half saves, from Antonee Robinson, Ademola Lookman and a stunning reaction to a deflected Ola Aina effort; with Hakim Ziyech, who, but for Alphonse Areola’s intervention, would have had Chelsea two goals up by half-time. SponsoredThe head coach admired Thiago Silva’s booming long pass, which, via Mason Mount’s deft control, led to the first goal; Ben Chilwell for the diagonal ball that created the second, routed

Source: The Times May 02, 2021 23:03 UTC