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 the numbers are put to him exhibits why he’s seen as a pacesetter by Enzo Maresca.
“I’m not too big on statistics,” Fernandez tells Sky Sports activities. “Of course, I like to score. I like to get assists. But the priority is always the team and what the manager wants. If the team wins, I go home happier about that than about scoring or giving an assist.”
Fortunately for Chelsea, each issues are occurring. They face Everton on Sunday on a run of eight consecutive wins in all competitions. The hole to Premier League leaders Liverpool has been decreased to 2 factors and Fernandez has been key, with three targets and 4 assists in six video games.
“I am very proud of how issues are going. I’ve labored so much for it. It’s a feeling each participant needs. I am happy with my performances however much more with the performances of the crew, which is most essential. I’ll hold working to assist my team-mates.
From shedding his place within the Chelsea crew in October to being one of many Premier League’s greatest performers two months later, it has been some turnaround. Maresca has described the 23-year-old, a World Cup-winner with Argentina, as an “example” to his team-mates for his response to being dropped.
“I have been through a lot of difficult moments in my career,” says Fernandez. “I knew that with exhausting work and humility I’d be capable to get again to feeling how I wished.
“I all the time tried to be along with the group and assist whoever was taking part in. Even once I’m not taking part in, I all the time attempt to prepare in the identical method, to assist the crew in each sport, in no matter minutes I get, and be obtainable and prepared for once I’m wanted.
“I stayed strong in my head and worked with humility, supporting my team-mates and the coaching staff. I wanted to keep learning and be open to possibilities. I hope I was an example to the group, as Enzo said. Now it’s about continuing in the same way.”
Fernandez has needed to shoulder the burden of a £107m price-tag since his arrival from Benfica two years in the past and he has embraced a brand new place too, adapting to the tactical calls for of working additional ahead having beforehand been used on the base of midfield.
Fernandez’s warmth maps spotlight how he’s taking part in additional ahead
He seems to be like a participant unshackled for the reason that change, his attacking output reworked. Fernandez’s numbers for passes within the opposition half, pictures and possibilities created have rocketed, his excellent imaginative and prescient now serving to to unlock defences.
“I will always do whatever the coach asks of me,” he says. “Whichever position I’m asked to play in, I will give the best version of myself and work for the team.
“Proper now, I am being requested to play a bit nearer to the field, with the chance to attain or help my team-mates. It is a good factor and I just like the place so much.”
It is not, however, a purely offensive role. Alongside Moises Caicedo, he is also expected to protect Chelsea’s defence. “It is an offensive place when it is time to assault, however when it is time to defend, I’ve to get again alongside Moi to shut the house between the traces.”
Fernandez’s numbers since his change of place
Maresca mentioned his resolution to drop Fernandez for Romeo Lavia was because of a scarcity of physicality however he has responded on that entrance too, utilizing the weeks out of the aspect to work on his depth off the ball. Monitoring information exhibits he’s operating additional and sprinting extra.
“It is a very demanding role, especially in the Premier League where the football is more direct. I have worked a lot to be at the right level physically. I am really happy with that side of things.”
On daily basis we perceive one another extra. He’s an distinctive participant. I hope to share a few years with him on the pitch
The point out of Caicedo brings a smile. It’s clear they’re shut off the pitch in addition to on it. “Sharing the pitch with Moi is incredible. I insisted a lot that he came to Chelsea when the club went to sign him. Now he’s here, you can see he’s not a normal player.
“He is a superb particular person as nicely and he brings us so much as a crew and as a team-mate. We’re getting on very nicely. On daily basis we perceive one another extra. He’s an distinctive participant. I hope to share a few years with him on the pitch right here at Chelsea.”
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Fernandez assisted the second purpose within the 2-1 win over Brentford
The passage of play that led to Chelsea’s second purpose in final weekend’s win over Brentford confirmed how they complement one another, with Caicedo profitable possession then feeding his midfield companion to launch Nicolas Jackson with a perfectly-weighted move.
Fernandez provides a glowing overview of Cole Palmer too.
“Cole has shown he is a very good player but he also works hard every day to be where he is today. Nobody knows what he will be able to achieve in football but I believe in him and I trust that he will achieve anything he puts his mind to because he has incredible quality.”
For myself and the membership, the purpose is to win each competitors we play in. That’s the historical past of Chelsea
It’s Maresca, although, who’s inspiring the optimism round Chelsea this season. “We have only had a few months with him but from the beginning he was very clear when it was time to work and time to transmit his idea of football, and the same for his coaching staff,” says Fernandez. “We have understood his plan perfectly.”
Maresca confirmed his religion in Fernandez instantly, making him captain within the absence of the injured Reece James in August, regardless of him having made headlines for the fallacious causes in Argentina that summer time. “I was more than grateful,” he says.
Fernandez has scored as many Premier League targets this time period as within the earlier season and a half
He describes carrying the armband as “something very beautiful” and praises the directness of Maresca’s communication. “He is very honest, always up front and that has helped the group a lot. You can see we’re very happy and that is thanks to him and his staff.”
Maresca has performed down Chelsea’s title possibilities regardless of their robust begin to the marketing campaign and Fernandez initiatives an analogous message – though his ambitions are clear.
“There may be nonetheless so much left to do. We simply go weekend to weekend. I do not need to set a goal that perhaps is not crucial proper now. However in fact, as a participant, I’ve all the time dreamed of doing nice issues. Successful the Premier League could be a dream for us all.
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Highlights from Chelsea’s 4-3 win at Tottenham, during which Fernandez scored
“For myself and the club, the goal is to win every competition we play in. That is the history of Chelsea. The club’s history represents that.”
In fact, Fernandez has already lifted the largest trophy of all of them, taking part in an important function in Argentina’s World Cup success in Qatar in 2022. However his urge for food for additional silverware is evident.
“Winning the World Cup was an incredible thing to do so young,” he says. “But I never felt that was enough. In my head, I was always thinking about going for more. I hope to achieve a lot more.”
With Enzo Fernandez main the best way, Chelsea hope for a similar.
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