The west London club were defeated in Bergamo despite opening the scoring, and supporters have singled out one of Enzo Maresca’s players for criticism. ..Continue Reading
Their impressive 3-0 victory over Barcelona on November 25 now feels distant, overshadowed by a worrying run of form for Maresca and his team, who have not picked up a win since.
The holiday stretch has been a frosty one for Chelsea, and fans are losing patience with one of the squad’s key figures.
Enzo Fernandez has remained a constant presence in Maresca’s lineup this season, appearing in all but one of the club’s 23 matches in all competitions.
The Argentine midfielder has delivered several excellent performances, including his display in the triumph over Barcelona at Stamford Bridge.
However, questions are being raised about his consistency, and his showing against Atalanta has prompted supporters to voice their frustrations with the 24-year-old.
He was substituted after 67 minutes at Gewiss Stadium, with Maresca choosing to replace him with Malo Gusto.
Fernandez struggled in central midfield, losing six of his nine ground duels and failing to provide the creative influence the team needed.
He did register one key pass, but his overall distribution was shaky, completing only 13 of 19 passes in the opponent’s half.
One frustrated fan remarked: “I need more from Enzo Fernandez out here, get the game by the scruff of its neck and get the team forward man.”
Another supporter suggested he falters when the match isn’t going in his team’s favour: “Enzo when things are going against him might be the worst footballer in the world.”
A third fan argued that Fernandez may be overrated: “10 mins in and I say it again, Enzo Fernandez is not what we think he is.”
Someone else added: “I’ve seen traffic bollards move faster than Enzo Fernandez.”
Another comment read: “I see why people don’t rate Enzo Fernandez… Mid player.. Just nonsense passion and vibes…”
Despite this, Fernandez has generally been one of Maresca’s more reliable contributors, particularly in matches where Chelsea have had to fight for results in tough scenarios.
He was outstanding in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal while the team was down to ten men, but his performance tonight has led fans to demand more from the £106 million midfielder.
Although his outing against Atalanta was far from his best, he continues to be a crucial member of Maresca’s squad.
Not only has he featured in all but one match this season, but he has also taken on a leadership role, wearing the captain’s armband multiple times.
Maresca has previously highlighted the 2022 World Cup Young Player of the Tournament’s influence both on the field and in the dressing room.
The Italian manager told reporters before the season began: “I am very pleased with Enzo especially because first of all he is a nice and polite boy, and then with us since we started he has been working very well in every aspect on and off the pitch.”
Fernandez recorded nine goals and 17 assists in 53 appearances in all competitions last season. Maresca also described how the midfielder adapted to his tactical demands: “(Last) season he struggled a bit at the beginning to understand the way we want to play but (since) then he is doing fantastic also in terms of numbers, goals and assists.”
This season, Fernandez has scored four times in 14 league matches, including a goal in a 5-1 rout of Ajax in the Champions League.
He will look to respond positively to the loss against Atalanta when Chelsea welcome Everton to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Saturday (December 13).
