Ola Aina and Ademola Lookman lead the contingent whose careers may be at a crossroads if the West London side drop to the Championship
As Ola Aina tried in vain to prevent Timo Werner’s well-timed pass to Kai Havertz in the opening stages of the second half, the immediate seconds after Chelsea’s second in the 2-0 win were telling.
Fulham defenders stared at themselves, wondering how they’d allowed both Germany internationals combine quite easily in their defensive third to, more or less, kill any hope of a comeback after half-time.
A visibly deflated Aina sat on the Stamford Bridge turf as Havertz wheeled away, knowing full well his reunion with old friends was likely to end in defeat.