When Joao Felix was named in the Chelsea starting-lineup against Fulham it raised eyebrows but for 57 minutes it was the best decision of Graham Potter's tenure. The on-loan Atletico Madrid star was by far the best player on the pitch until his perfect debut took a dramatic turn for the worst.
After nearly quarter-of-an-hour into the second-half, Felix lunged in on Kenny Tete and was shown a red card for his challenge. And, as the Portugal international walked down the tunnel, the Blues lost their cutting edge.
Fulham are now six points ahead of tenth-placed Chelsea and Potter's only glimmer of hope is now suspended for three games. So, with that being said, football.london has taken a look at how the national media reacted to the Craven Cottage defeat.
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The Guardian
"To give Potter credit, it may well have turned out differently had Félix kept his cool instead of chopping down Kenny Tete when the game was locked at 1-1 after 58 minutes," Jacob Steinberg wrote for The Guardian.
"But Chelsea lost, the 10 men cracking when Carlos Vinícius headed in the winner on 73 minutes. It was another soft concession, with Thiago Silva and Kepa Arrizabalaga both at fault, and Fulham could cherish rising into sixth place.
"The gloating from Fulham’s fans, who cannot believe how well Marco Silva’s team have played since winning promotion, was tough to take. It is not supposed to be like this for Chelsea, although their demise is about more than whether it was right to replace Thomas Tuchel with Potter. After all, it was not Potter who signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who did not even make it off the bench when Chelsea were chasing a late point.
"The balance is not right. Koulibaly has been a poor signing, while Marc Cucurella’s late cameo underlined why an 18-year-old, Lewis Hall, was chosen at left wing-back instead of the £62m Spaniard."
The Mirror
"Every time you offer a hard luck story, there is always someone with a counter argument and Potter is rapidly running out of excuses, especially when you look at the miracles Marco Silva is working on a fraction of the budget at Fulham," John Cross wrote for the Mirror.
"Even with injuries, you still expect organisation, basic defending and players not to lose their heads in the way Felix went studs up on Fulham’s Kenny Tete. Felix’s six-month loan deal is costing a staggering £15m - £9.7m in a loan fee to Atletico Madrid and £5.3m in wages - and now they will be paying a large chunk of that for the Portugal starlet to sit out a three-match ban.
"The Fulham fans were chanting 'You’re Getting Sacked In The Morning' at Potter and it will really be a test of nerve now for Chelsea because their own supporters have long since lost heart."
Daily Mail
"When Felix went straight into Graham Potter's team at Fulham after training just once with his new team since arriving from Atletico Madrid it seemed like another move made in haste," wrote Matt Barlow for the Daily Mail. "Certainly not one that would've been made with Chelsea settled and ticking over nicely.
"When he was sent off with less than an hour played, for a lunging, studs-up, desperate-to-impress tackle on Kenny Tete early in the second half, it seemed like a terrible decision to have thrown a young man with a point to prove straight into the heat of a Premier League derby against in-form opponents.
"Until then, however, the 23-year-old had been all silk and no sulk. Given the freedom to roam, he flickered into spaces on the left and right and dropped in between Fulham's defensive lines."
The Express
"It was a surprise when loan signing Felix was named as a starter just over 24 hours after his arrival from Atletico Madrid was confirmed," Sam Smith wrote for The Express. "But the Portugal international turned out to be one of the only bright sparks for the Blues before his evening came crashing down with a red card on the hour mark.
"The 23-year-old created an excellent chance for Lewis Hall and had two Fulham players booked within the first 15 minutes. He was the energetic presence prepared to press and harry that Chelsea have missed this season.
"But Felix completely ruined his debut with a horrible knee-high sliding tackle on Kenny Tete. He walked off in disgrace after being dismissed by referee David Coote."
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