Jamie Redknapp has praised Enzo Maresca for being able to solve one conundrum that previous Chelsea managers were unable to.
Chelsea continued their strong start to the season as they came from 2-0 down on Sunday to beat Tottenham 4-3 and make it four Premier League wins in a row.
The Blues are now four points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand, whilst they moved two points clear of Arsenal in third following their draw with Fulham.
Redknapp praises Maresca
Chelsea are exceeding many people’s expectations with their start to the season and Maresca’s men have lost just two of their 15 league games and are the league’s top scorers with 35 goals.
The 44-year-old has consistently played down talk of the Blues being in the title race, but if they keep winning it will get hard to continue to do so.
Maresca has managed to implement an identity and style of play in such a short space of time, whilst he is tactically switched on, as shown by his in game management against Southampton and Spurs.
Enzo Fernandez in midfield for Chelsea. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Fernandez has five goal contributions in his last four league games. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Redknapp feels the Italian deserves credit for getting the best out of Enzo Fernandez and claimed it was a conundrum previous managers had failed to solve.
“The manager [Enzo Maresca] has solved the conundrum that other managers struggled with in terms of getting the best out of Enzo Fernandez,” he told Sky Sports as cited on X.com.
“He looks exceptional in midfield. He looks like the player that they bought for £105m. I thought the Premier League was just too quick for him.
“I didn’t think he would be able to compete. You’ve got to obviously play him high up the pitch, he’s not a defensive midfield player.”
More Stories / Latest News
Chelsea corner flag at Stamford Bridge
Fernandez had been linked with a move away from Chelsea whilst he was out of the team but since the November international break he’s been in brilliant form, with Martin Keown describing him as unrecognisable.
The 23-year-old has started all four of Chelsea’s league games and has two goals and three assists in that period, including the all important third goal against Spurs, and he’s arguably playing the best football of Chelsea career.