Graham Potter says it will not be an overnight transformation at Chelsea despite £600 million outlay

Graham Potter has moved to rein in expectations, saying it will take time for Chelsea’s new recruits to gel.

The Blues shelled out in the region of £320 million on players in the January transfer window, taking their outlay since the summer to £600m.

Enzo Fernandez was brought in on transfer deadline day for, if reports are to be believed, £120 million.

The result leaves Chelsea 20 points adrift of leaders Arsenal in the Premier League, having played two games more.

Potter said there were positives to take, but that it will not be an overnight transformation of the team’s fortunes.

“There was a lot of excitement and positivity from the start, a good atmosphere,” Potter said. “The spirit of the players was really good. They worked hard for each other against an organised team.

“They’ve (Fulham) been together a while. We’re at a different stage of that – players coming back from injury and new players. We needed time to settle everything down. We were missing the connection, fluidity and confidence that comes from knowing each other.”

Potter made his name at Brighton by building a successful, exciting team over a number of years.

The Chelsea manager feels hard work will be key to transforming the club’s fortunes at Stamford Bridge, but the foundations have been put in place due to the profile of the players that were recruited.

“The decision we took in the window you can see the profile in terms of age,” Potter said. “We feel we have a very strong group of players. We have to gel and become a really good team. That’s where the work is.

“It’s working together. When players have been injured they have not been on the training pitch. We have new players with us. It’s about getting ideas across and working with the group.

“Sometimes you have to look at the whole package. Young players, nice mix of them both. For us it’s about improving.

“New players are adapting to a new country and a new league. It’s not straightforward. When the price tag is what it is questions will be asked, it’s the nature of the business.”

Potter refused to put a timeframe on when things will improve, as he said: “I can’t stand in front of you here and give a timescale, it is our job to improve – daily and weekly. That is the challenge.

“That is the coaching process. We have to settle down, we have to work with the players, the window is shut and we have to move forward.”

New signing Mykhaylo Mudryk was withdrawn at half-time, but there was nothing sinister in that decision.

“He has had a heavy cold this week and felt heavy-legged at half-time,” Potter said: “We did not want to take a chance with him, he is still in a process where we are building up his minutes.”