Enzo Fernandez mentioned his begin to life at Stamford Bridge was removed from excellent, however insisted his record-breaking price ticket was not a think about his early struggles at Chelsea.
Fernandez turned 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 powerful first six months at Stamford Bridge, the Argentine then struggled in his first full season, lacking 10 video games and needing surgical procedure to remedy a hernia difficulty.
Now below his third everlasting supervisor at Chelsea, having outlasted Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino, Fernandez mentioned that he was “not happy” together with his early shows.
“After I arrived it was very tough, the primary 12 months and a half right here: change of coaches, the membership wasn’t doing nicely, private accidents,” Fernandez advised 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 happy with what I had been exhibiting, then I bought injured, many issues occurred.
“I attempted to maneuver ahead, however in the present day I really feel excellent, as does the group, and we hope to proceed on this path.”
Since Enzo Maresca’s arrival on the membership, Fernandez has been a participant remodeled 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 objectives, 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 probabilities 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 companion 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 bought the thought of what the coach needed.
“[Maresca] defined to me what he needed and I used to be getting the idea, studying the video games.
“On a private stage I’ve been feeling excellent. The group has proven a really sturdy character, all the time working with humility and exhibiting that nice issues may be achieved.
“There may be nonetheless a protracted solution to go.”
