Enzo Fernandez mentioned his begin to life at Stamford Bridge was removed from superb, however insisted his record-breaking price ticket was not a consider his early struggles at Chelsea.
Fernandez grew to become the Premier League’s costliest participant when the Blues signed him from Benfica in a reported £106.8million deal on deadline day in January 2023.
Following a formidable first six months at Stamford Bridge, the Argentine then struggled in his first full season, lacking 10 video games and needing surgical procedure to treatment a hernia difficulty.
Now underneath his third everlasting supervisor at Chelsea, having outlasted Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino, Fernandez mentioned that he was “not glad” along with his early shows.
“Once I arrived it was very troublesome, the primary 12 months and a half right here: change of coaches, the membership wasn’t doing nicely, private accidents,” Fernandez instructed ESPN.
“It didn’t have an effect on me. I attempted to take it responsibly, with enjoyment, with out stress. I used to be not glad with what I had been displaying, then I acquired injured, many issues occurred.
“I attempted to maneuver ahead, however at the moment I really feel superb, as does the workforce, and we hope to proceed on this path.”
Since Enzo Maresca’s arrival on the membership, Fernandez has been a participant reworked because the Blues look to win their first Premier League title for the reason that 2016-17 season.
Fernandez has notched all seven of his aim involvements (three targets, 4 assists) within the Premier League this season in his final seven appearances.
Within the top-flight this marketing campaign, solely Cole Palmer (47) has created extra possibilities for the Blues than Fernandez (26), whereas the Argentine’s 67 duels that he has received is a complete solely bettered by Palmer (73) and midfield associate Moises Caicedo (105).
Chelsea are unbeaten of their final 9 Premier League video games (W6 D3), whereas Fernandez has additionally been central to their success within the Europa Convention League, notching three assists in two video games with the Blues nonetheless unbeaten within the competitors.
And the 23-year-old has credited new supervisor Maresca for his private uptick in efficiency, saying that Chelsea can obtain “nice issues” with the Italian on the helm.
“I realized the place through which I needed to play,” mentioned Fernandez. “Over time I acquired the thought of what the coach wished.
“[Maresca] defined to me what he wished and I used to be getting the idea, studying the video games.
“On a private degree I’ve been feeling superb. The workforce has proven a really sturdy character, all the time working with humility and displaying that nice issues may be achieved.
“There’s nonetheless an extended solution to go.”
