Enzo Maresca has revealed that Enzo Fernandez is an early injury doubt for Chelsea’s Champions League game against Ajax on Wednesday.
Fernandez withdrew from international duty with Argentina last weekend resulting from a knee injury and was unable to participate in training after returning to Chelsea this week.
The 24-year-old was then unnoticed of the matchday squad for Chelsea’s 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
‘Enzo had small problem,’ Maresca said after Chelsea’s victory.
‘A small problem that in the meanwhile we are usually not in a position to say if he will be available for Ajax or not.’
Get personalised updates on Chelsea each day
Get up to search out news in your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Join to our newsletter after which select your team within the link we’ll send you so we are able to get football news tailored to you.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to an internet
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Maresca, meanwhile, made three substitutes at half time after a poor first-half display against Forest.
Romeo Lavia, Alejandro Garnacho and Andrey Santos were all replaced with Moises Caicedo, Jamie Gittens and Marc Guiu brought on.
Josh Acheampong, Pedro Neto and Reece James all found the web within the second half to secure Chelsea’s 3-0 win.
‘I all the time attempt to do my best. Sometimes I’m flawed, sometimes I’m right. But on this moment, it’s more about protecting players. We already knew that Romeo [Lavia] was not going to play 90 minutes,’ Maresca said when asked about his three substitutions.
‘Romeo’s plan was 45 minutes. Moi [Caicedo] cannot play 90 minutes, so the choice was to start out with Moi or start with Romeo. And Romeo needs confidence, he needs a lift, he needs to start out the sport. In order that was the plan. Then Garna [Garnacho] did a incredible game against Liverpool. So it was good to provide him again the possibility.
‘Jamie [Gittens] got here on, he was okay. And I feel Marc Guiu was good. But additionally we planned the sport expecting them back 4, not back five. I feel back 4 with Joao Pedro at No.9 is best. With back five, Joao Pedro at No.9 will not be… in case you remember, West Ham away, back five, we played Liam Delap and Joao Pedro against a back five. So we expected them back 4, but they were back five. After which after half-time, we modified.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the newest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Chelsea star slammed for ‘stupidest tackle on the earth’ against Nottingham Forest
MORE: Fulham 0-1 Arsenal: Gunners top again after Leandro Trossard winner
MORE: ‘A large problem’ – Glenn Hoddle fires ominous warning to Chelsea over Cole Palmer injury