Unique interview with Enzo Fernandez: Chelsea midfielder flourishing in new function beneath Enzo Maresca and aiming for trophies | Soccer information

Solely Mohamed Salah has extra targets and assists than Enzo Fernandez within the final six weeks within the Premier League. However he’s extra within the collective. His response when offered with the numbers reveals why he’s thought of a pacesetter by Enzo Maresca.

“I’m not a lot of a fan of statistics,” says Fernandez Aerial sports activities. “In fact I like to attain. I wish to obtain assists. However the precedence is all the time the group and what the coach needs. If the group wins, I’m going residence happier about that than about having scored or given an help.”

Luckily for Chelsea, each issues are taking place. They’ll face Everton on Sunday on a run of eight consecutive victories in all competitions. The hole with Premier League leaders Liverpool was diminished to 2 factors and Fernandez performed a key function, with three targets and 4 assists in six video games.

“I am very proud of the best way issues are going. I’ve labored quite a bit for this. It is a feeling that each participant needs. I am proud of my efficiency however much more with the group’s efficiency, which is a very powerful factor. I’ll proceed to work to assist my teammates.

From shedding his place within the Chelsea group in October to turning into probably the greatest gamers within the Premier League two months later, there was a turnaround. Maresca described the 23-year-old, a World Cup winner with Argentina, as an “instance” to his teammates for his response after his exclusion.

“I’ve been by way of quite a lot of powerful occasions in my profession,” Fernandez says. “I knew that with arduous work and humility, I might be capable to discover what I wished.

“I all the time tried to be with the group and help whoever was enjoying. Even after I’m not enjoying, I all the time attempt to practice the identical method, to help the group in each recreation, within the minutes I’ve, and to be obtainable and prepared after I want it.

“I stayed robust in my head and labored with humility, supporting my teammates and the teaching employees. I wished to proceed studying and be open to potentialities. I hope I used to be an instance for the group, like mentioned Enzo. Now it is about persevering with the identical method.

Fernandez has needed to shoulder the burden of a £107 million price ticket since arriving from Benfica two years in the past and he has additionally adopted a brand new place, adapting to the tactical calls for of working additional out having beforehand been used on the base of the midfield.

He appears like a participant on a rampage because the swap, his offensive energy remodeled. Fernandez’s numbers for passes into the opposition’s half, pictures and possibilities created have soared, along with his distinctive imaginative and prescient now serving to to unlock defenses.

“I’ll all the time do regardless of the coach asks me to do,” he says. “No matter place I’m requested to play, I’ll give the very best model of myself and work for the group.

“In the mean time I am being requested to play a bit of nearer to the field, with the potential of scoring or serving to my teammates. It is a good factor and I actually like this place.”

Nevertheless, this isn’t a purely offensive function. Alongside Moises Caicedo, he must also shield Chelsea’s protection. “It is an offensive place when it is time to assault, however when it is time to defend, I’ve to get again to Moi’s facet to cut back the house between the strains.”

Maresca mentioned his choice to drop Fernandez for Romeo Lavia was all the way down to a scarcity of physicality, however he responded on that entrance too, utilizing the weeks on the sidelines to work on his depth off the ball. Monitoring knowledge reveals he runs farther and sprints extra.

“It is a very demanding function, particularly within the Premier League the place the soccer is extra direct. I’ve labored quite a bit to be on the proper degree bodily. I am actually proud of that facet of issues.”

Day by day we perceive one another extra. He’s an distinctive participant. I hope to share a few years with him within the area

The point out of Caicedo brings a smile. It’s clear that they’re near the pitch as on this one. “Sharing the pitch with Me is unbelievable. I pushed quite a bit for him to come back to Chelsea when the membership went to signal him. Now that he is right here you possibly can see he is not a traditional participant.

“He’s additionally an amazing particular person and he brings us quite a bit as a group and as a teammate. We get alongside very effectively. Day by day we perceive one another extra. He’s an distinctive participant. I hope to share quite a bit years with him on the pitch right here at Chelsea.”

The passage of play that led to Chelsea’s second purpose in final weekend’s win over Brentford confirmed how effectively they complement one another, Caicedo successful possession then feeding his midfield accomplice to launch Nicolas Jackson with a superbly weighted go.

Fernandez additionally gives a glowing overview from Cole Palmer.

“Cole has proven that he’s an excellent participant, however he additionally works arduous on daily basis to be the place he’s at this time. No one is aware of what he can obtain in soccer, however I imagine in him and I I’ve confidence that he’ll obtain no matter he units his thoughts to as a result of he has unbelievable qualities.

For me and for the membership, the purpose is to win each competitors we play. That is the story of Chelsea.

It’s Maresca, nonetheless, who’s inspiring optimism round Chelsea this season. “We solely had a number of months with him, however from the beginning he was very clear when it was time to work and transmit his thought of ​​soccer, and it was the identical for his teaching group” , explains Fernández. “We understood his plan completely.”

Maresca instantly confirmed his confidence in Fernandez, naming him captain within the absence of the injured Reece James in August, regardless of him making headlines for the fallacious causes in Argentina that summer season. “I used to be past grateful,” he says.

He describes sporting the armband as “one thing very stunning” and praises the frankness of Maresca’s communication. “He’s very sincere, all the time frank and that has helped the group quite a bit. You may see we’re very completely satisfied and it is because of him and his employees.”

Maresca has downplayed Chelsea’s title possibilities regardless of their robust begin to the marketing campaign and Fernandez is projecting an identical message – though his ambitions are clear.

“There’s nonetheless quite a bit to do. We’re going from one weekend to the subsequent. I do not need to set a purpose that will not be mandatory in the intervening time. However in fact, as a participant, I all the time dreamed of doing issues effectively. Profitable the Premier League could be a dream for all of us.

“For me and for the membership, the purpose is to win each competitors we play. That is the historical past of Chelsea. The historical past of the membership represents that.”

In fact, Fernandez has already gained the most important trophy of all, enjoying an important function in Argentina’s World Cup success in Qatar in 2022. However his urge for food for extra trophies is obvious.

“Profitable the World Cup was an unbelievable factor to take action younger,” he mentioned. “However I by no means thought it was sufficient. In my head, I used to be all the time serious about doing extra. I hope to perform much more.”

With Enzo Fernandez main the best way, Chelsea will probably be hoping for a similar.

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