Graham Potter doesn't believe there are any "silver bullets" that can instantly solve Chelsea's attacking problems – but the Blues head coach is confident Joao Felix make an impact on his return against West Ham United tomorrow (Saturday).
Felix joined Chelsea on loan last month from Atletico Madrid and made his debut against Fulham at Craven Cottage. It was an outing that lasted just 58 minutes as the Portugal international – who otherwise impressed – was sent off for a reckless challenge on defender Kenny Tete.
A three-match suspension followed in which Chelsea only once managed to find the back of the net; Kai Havertz struck the only goal of the game in a narrow win over Crystal Palace. The hope is that Felix will prove the missing link in the frontline and unlock the true potential of those around him.
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Yet Potter has warned against the expectation that Felix will be a cure-all solution. "The first signs were positive with him and I think he is a very gifted individual. Then it’s about how he fits in with the rest of the guys in the team," he said.
"Ultimately, if we’re going to be successful it’s about the team attacking better and the team defending better. It’s not necessarily about individuals, about silver bullets that can come and fix your problems. It’s not quite as simple as that, although it sounds like a nice way to fix the problem. You have to construct a team, that’s the game of football and that’s what we have to try and do.
"Sometimes when a new player comes in and has got a freshness, they just play off instinct. These players are top players. It can be quite simple for them. For some, it’s more complicated because it’s about how they link with people but he had a nice chemistry with Kai [Havertz].
"He found a nice role in the game [against Fulham]. I wouldn’t want to put pressure on him but we have him as a top player. And then it’s about how the team can function better. Joao can help and show his quality – and he is hungry to get back out there, that’s for sure. You can sense that."
Potter added: "We're just in a phase where we have to get him on the pitch and help him enjoy his football. I think he went to Madrid with a big price tag and that tells you something about the quality. Now it’s about him showing that quality and enjoying his football. It’s as simple as that."
Chelsea head to the London Stadium – somewhere they have only won twice in all competitions – ninth in the Premier League table and with their hopes of finishing inside the top four dwindling by the week. Yet Potter is not prepared to write off the campaign and wants to see improvements from his side in the matches ahead.
"Clearly, we want to improve in everything. From an attacking perspective, I would like us to create more chances and do more with the possession that we have. I don’t worry too much about 17 games time, I focus on the next game and try to improve in that way
"At the end of that time, you hope to see the progress you have made. There are going to be challenges along the way because there’s a lot of competition and players. We have to make sure the environment and daily work still stays good and strong; we stay together and keep progressing and trying to compete in every game."
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