Enzo Maresca predicts Enzo Fernandez will excel even more next season

In recent remarks, Chelsea Football Club's head coach, Enzo Maresca, expressed strong optimism regarding the performance of Argentina midfielder, Enzo Fernandez. The public comments came ahead of a significant match against Fernandez's former team, Benfica, scheduled to be held in Charlotte. Fernandez, a player acquired from the Portuguese club Benfica for a record fee of £106.8 million two years ago, faced early challenges in adapting to life at Stamford Bridge. However, his performance during the latter half of the 2024-25 season saw a notable improvement, culminating in a total of eight goals. This resurgence continued in the Club World Cup, where Fernandez helped his team secure crucial victories against Los Angeles FC and Esperance Tunis, contributing with goals and assists. Maresca praised Fernandez's character, highlighting his politeness and work ethic as key attributes. He acknowledged that Fernandez initially struggled to adapt to the club's tactical system, but emphasized that his contributions have been significant this season. As anticipation builds for the upcoming clash with Benfica, Maresca believes that Fernandez's trajectory will only continue to ascend next season. Yet, competition within the squad is increasing, as talented Brazilian player Andrey Santos is seen by Maresca in a role similar to Fernandez. Santos recently returned to Chelsea after a successful loan at Strasbourg and has begun to settle into Maresca's tactical plans. As the transfer window looms, there are concerns over the stability of players like defender Josh Acheampong and England international Trevoh Chalobah, both of whom have been linked with moves to other clubs. The coach expressed hope that they would remain with the team as Chelsea prepares for future challenges. Maresca foresees a highly competitive and balanced match against Benfica, emphasizing that success may depend on the smallest of details within the game.