Fernández finally flourishing with Chelsea as Benfica reunion awaits | Chelsea

ENzo Fernández is no stranger to the big scene. The midfielder took his chance when he broke out during the 2022 World Cup, winning a starting role for Argentina after getting out of the bench to score a vital goal against Mexico in the second group match.

Fernández seemed to have been on the team for years when Argentina beat France to sanctions in the final. He was appointed young tournament player and inevitably became a target for several major clubs. It was not long before Word filter from Portugal that Chelsea and Liverpool plan to sign the former River Plate midfielder in the transfer window of January 2023.

The fear of Chelsea was that Arsenal and Manchester City planned to move for Fernández in summer. Not wanting to miss a key goal, the decision was made to pay above the current rate. The expectations exploded when Fernández joined 106.7 million pounds sterling, breaking the British transfer record. He entered a troubled club. The experienced players wanted to go out, Graham Potter was about to be dismissed and there was a lot of pressure on Fernández because of his costs, even if he had moved to a new league halfway and had only made 25 departures for Benfica.

Mauricio Pocsettino, who replaced Potter in the summer of 2023, often talked about Fernández’s trip in advance too quickly. He was sympathetic compared to the workload of his compatriot and wanted him to improve his physique. Fernández has produced quality lightning, but its partnership with Moisés Caicedo has often worked badly. Soon there were suggestions that Chelsea was better without Fernández, who missed the end of the 2023-24 season after a hernia operation.

However, Benfica will meet a much more difficult version of Fernández when they play Chelsea in the last 16 of the Club World Cup on Saturday. The 24 -year -old is in excellent form before facing his former team for the first time. Fernández became a leader last season and added a new advantage to his game, flourishing since inzo Maresca has adjusted his role, pushing him forward and challenging him to mark more.

There was a time when it seemed that Fernández was relaxed due to the emergence of Romeo Lavia as a deep partner for Caicedo. There were whispers that the Argentinian world champion was in danger of becoming a very expensive reserve. No one questioned Maresca when he put Fernández on the bench against Liverpool last October and started without him in four consecutive championship games. Statistics suggested that it was the right decision. Fernández had scored seven goals since he joined Chelsea, his success rate of the tackle was 39%, his death had decreased and he did not create a great chance.

But he replied. Fernández, named after the former Grande Enzo Francescoli de l’Uruguay, set up the Equializer of Chelsea after being against Arsenal in early November. He returned to the initial training against Leicester and provided a goal and a assist. “I try to convince Enzo that the attackers’ fields must arrive in the box,” said Maresca.

The Leicester game has marked a quarter of work. The hypothesis with Fernández when he joined was that he was conductor; A direct replacement of Jorginho. Maresca sees it differently. If Fernández does not have mobility to be a box-to-box midfielder and is wasted with a defense screening, ask him to do less. Contain its role and put it in the right areas.

Playing higher, Fernández has become a midfielder crossing in a box. No Chelsea player has any more involvement of the objectives in 2025 than his 14. Fernández was their best player in the club World Cup. He got out of the bench to make a late race and score when Chelsea beat Los Angeles FC in his opening match. There was also a reminder of Fernández’s ability to choose a pass when he set up the goal of Liam Delap against Espérance. “He told me to run when he gets the ball,” said Delap.

The challenge is now for Fernández to offer more in the biggest games. Eight of these 14 goal involvement came against the humble opponents of the Conference League and in the Club World Cup. A winner in the head against Tottenham in April and an intelligent finish to open the scoring against Liverpool last month, which shows that Fernández can prosper in moments of pressure. These are great goals in Chelsea’s push for the qualification in the Champions League.

Fernández is in a much better place than when he went to the United States for the Chelsea pre-season tour last year. He was a silhouette in disgrace at the time, after being filmed by participating in a racist song after the triumph of Argentina in the Copa America. Reintegrating it was a challenge. Maresca was criticized for having made the Fernández captain the opening weekend of the season.

However, injuries were healed. Fernández was forgiven after apologizing to his teammates. Hope is that he has matured. Chelsea is a young team. Fernández is a competitor. He plays with a rumble. He does not hesitate to face the opponents.

He has intensified in recent months. A large part of the objective after Chelsea retreated by 1-0 to beat Real Betis during the final of the conference league was on the splendor of Cole Palmer in the second half, but it should not be forgotten that it was Fernández who ghostly in the box to mark the equalizer. More of that and people will start talking about the new Frank Lampard.