Enzo Fernandez is one of the in-form players in Chelsea’s squad at this moment in time.
Enzo Fernandez helped Chelsea to beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 last Sunday, scoring in that thrilling London derby.
It means that the midfielder has now scored three goals in his last four Premier League matches. Gabriel Agbonlahor named Fernandez in his Team of the Week following his performance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
However, while things are going well for Fernandez now, he was struggling at one point earlier in the season.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca chats with Enzo Fernandez after the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Aston Villa FC at Stamford Bridge on D...
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Enzo Maresca praises Enzo Fernandez
In October, Enzo Maresca dropped Fernandez for Chelsea’s 2-1 loss to Liverpool at Anfield.
The Argentine did not win his place back in the team until the following month. But since returning to the starting XI, he has been excellent.
Maresca now thinks that Fernandez can be a “good example” for other Chelsea players.
“Enzo is a very good example,” Maresca was quoted as saying by Chelsea’s official website. “Noni is the same. Even when they were not playing, they were doing the right things. It was my decision to leave them out but it wasn’t because they were training badly or the behaviour wasn’t right. It was simple technical decisions.
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“Sometimes, when you leave out players you hurt them and motivate them to give something extra, but Enzo can be a good example for the rest. We have more players who were out at one moment but when they played did very well.”
Fernandez will be expected to start in Chelsea’s match against Brentford later. Romeo Lavia could miss the game because of injury.
What else has Enzo Maresca said about Enzo Fernandez?
For Maresca, most of Chelsea’s threat this season has come from the right side. However, the Chelsea head coach believes that Fernandez and Jadon Sancho are now starting to make the team more dangerous on the left.
Speaking about how his team attacks, Maresca said: “If you look at us this season, from the right winger with Noni and Pedro, the right pocket with Cole, the number nine with Christo and Nico, we have scored goals.
“From the left side and left pocket, we struggle a little bit but now we start with Enzo and Jadon. With the five attacking players, we need goals and assists from them. All the same.”
Offensively, the Blues have impressed in the current campaign. With 35 goals, they are the highest scorers in the Premier League.
Defensively, Chelsea have not been too bad either, conceding just 18 goals. Only Arsenal and Liverpool have conceded fewer goals.
Ultimately, Maresca now looks to have found a balance between attack and defence. If his side can maintain that, then there is no reason why they cannot compete for the title.
Of course, being a team lacking experience compared to the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal, you can expect Maresca to continue to downplay Chelsea’s chances of winning the Premier League crown this term.
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