Enzo Maresca believes Enzo Fernandez is going from strength to strength in a Chelsea shirt ahead of his reunion with former club Benfica in the Club World Cup round of 16.
The Argentine midfielder departed the Portuguese giants in February 2023 to complete what was then a club-record transfer to Stamford Bridge.
Fernandez has since established himself as a key figure in our midfield. He has made 111 appearances and has this season scored nine goals, registered 16 assists, and captained the Blues on several occasions.
Maresca accepts that Fernandez needed a period of adaptation at the start of the campaign, with the 24-year-old's role in the side being tweaked.
However, he believes the Argentina international has improved as the campaign has progressed – and that he will continue to do so next term.
'Since we started \[working together at Chelsea\], he is doing very well in all aspects inside the pitch and outside the pitch,' the Blues head coach said.
'This season, he struggled a little bit in the beginning in the way we wanted to play, but he is doing fantastic in terms of the number of goals and assists. This is what we want from our attacking players.
'I prefer that the attacking players score ten to twelve goals each rather than one player with 40 goals. Enzo, this season his contribution has been top, and next season it will be even better.'
_DAZN are broadcasting every game at the Club World Cup for free around the world._ [_Sign up to DAZN to watch the Blues play for free!_](https://www.dazn.com/en-MX/competition/Competition:dc4k1xh2984zbypbnunk7ncic?utm_source=clubworldcup&utm_medium=organicpartner&utm_campaign=dazn_global_gl_display_soccer_brand_fy_2025&utm_term=null-chelsea-tracking_fixed)