Latest news with #EnzoFernandez
New York Times
2 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Enzo Fernandez, from Benfica to Chelsea: Is he finally justifying the £106m fee?
Benfica are not rooting for Enzo Fernandez to become a world champion this time around. Back in December 2022, the sight of Fernandez lifting the World Cup trophy in Qatar was celebrated vicariously in the red corner of Lisbon as it was in his home city of Buenos Aires. He had come into the competition as a substitute and his elevation into Lionel Scaloni's starting XI after scoring a spectacular goal off the bench in a 2-0 win against Mexico had changed the trajectory of Argentina's tournament, rebalancing the midfield supply lines into Lionel Messi. Advertisement Fernandez had been a Benfica player for only six months then, but it was already clear the club would make a huge profit on the €10million (£8.5m; $12m at current rates) fee, plus €8million in add-ons, paid to acquire him from River Plate in the summer of 2022. The only question was when. Roger Schmidt's Benfica side had gone into the World Cup break leading the Primeira Liga by eight points and had topped their Champions League group above Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus. Fernandez had quickly established himself as the playmaking hub of a dominant midfield. Despite Benfica's determination to preserve the core of a potentially special team, Fernandez returned to Portugal with Chelsea hot in pursuit. He had to be convinced to play in a 3-0 loss to Braga, then jetted back to Argentina for New Year celebrations. Having been dropped for the following league match against Portimonense, he returned and scored in a cup win against Varzim, celebrating by tapping the club badge on his shirt in a sign widely interpreted as affirming his desire to stay. Three weeks later, he joined Chelsea. 'We lost a great player but I'm not going to cry for a player who doesn't want to represent Benfica,' club president Rui Costa told BTV after reluctantly signing off the January deadline day deal, which valued Fernandez at his €121million release clause. 'He showed no commitment to Benfica. Here I thought he couldn't play for Benfica anymore. As a fan, I didn't want this player anymore, as a manager it wasn't a solution either and he couldn't enter the locker room again. That's when I decided to let him go.' Fernandez fought hard to get to Chelsea, at the cost of any lingering goodwill from Benfica, despite the huge financial windfall his sale delivered. The midfielder has arguably had to fight even harder to begin to justify the energy and expense required to bring him to Stamford Bridge two and a half years ago. Advertisement The version of Fernandez that will take to the field for the Club World Cup last-16 meeting between Chelsea and Benfica on Saturday has evolved considerably. The notion of Fernandez as the positional and spiritual successor to Jorginho at the heart of Chelsea's midfield is in the past. Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea's head coach at the time, privately questioned whether his countryman was defensively impactful enough to be deployed as a deep-lying 'No 6' or creative enough to be a more attack-minded 'No 8' in central midfield. More often, Pochettino cast him as the latter. Pochettino's successor, Enzo Maresca, has come up with a more nuanced solution. 'When we have the ball, he is playing like an attacking midfielder and is dropping next to Moises Caicedo when we don't have the ball to give us defensive balance,' the Italian said of Fernandez in October. It helps that Fernandez is now fit enough to go from box to box at Premier League intensity, which was not the case when he arrived from Benfica in the middle of the 2022-23 season. 'The first six months, the first year with Pochettino, was very difficult for me physically, but then I had to start training extra because what I did in the morning was not enough,' he said in an interview with Argentine journalist Gaston Edul at Chelsea's Cobham HQ last month. 'As time went by, I got the results and (now) I feel very good physically.' The requirements of his role in Maresca's system have significantly re-modelled Fernandez's game. Last season, the 24-year-old recorded by far the fewest number of touches (67.6) and attempted passes (58.1) per 90 minutes of his career. His influence on Chelsea's sequences of possession is almost entirely focused on the left 'pocket' or half-space, operating alongside Cole Palmer as one of two advanced creators in a 'box' midfield. Fernandez's adaptation has been painful at times. In the first half of last season, it was reasonable to wonder if he had a logical position in Chelsea's best XI. Maresca himself appeared to wrestle with that question, benching the Argentinian for four Premier League games in a row in October and admitting he preferred the 'physicality' offered by Romeo Lavia's midfield partnership with Caicedo. Advertisement But in recent months, Fernandez has demonstrated his value to Chelsea's attack, creating chances more efficiently in the final third and offering an auxiliary goal threat. His arrival in the penalty area to convert Liam Delap's cross against Los Angeles FC was not surprising — it mirrored the run he made to score a vital early winner against Liverpool in early May. While the frequency of his shot attempts has actually dipped slightly relative to last season (1.6 per 90 minutes, down from 1.8), the average distance of his shots has shrunk over his Chelsea career (25.7 yards in 2022-23, 21.3 yards in 2023-24, 18.1 yards in 2024-25) and perhaps not coincidentally he is finishing more clinically. Fernandez also credits the time he has spent with a sports psychologist for a mental breakthrough. 'The first year and a half I was here wasn't easy,' he said in his interview with Edul. 'Moving countries — I had been in Lisbon before for six months — everything was new, a new language. Being with my family was also difficult. Here (in England), by 3 pm it was already night, and living day-to-day life was difficult until I got psychological help. 'I started to share what I felt and as time went by, I started feeling better. Then everything became much easier.' Fernandez was directly involved in 13 goals in the Premier League (six goals and seven assists, his best attacking numbers in Europe) and scored and assisted in Chelsea's comeback win over Real Betis in last month's Conference League final, nodding in the equaliser from Palmer's inviting cross. He has carried that form to the United States, building on his goal against LAFC with a clever dinked pass to help Delap score his first goal for the club against ES Tunis. 'He's told me to run when he gets the ball,' Delap told reporters after the match. Fernandez has already made more than double the number of appearances for Chelsea that he made for River and Benfica combined, and a significant number of them while wearing the captain's armband. Maresca has always described him as a 'reference' for his team on the pitch, but such status carries more credibility now that it appears there are no enduring dressing-room issues from the racist Argentina team bus song video that overshadowed last summer. Advertisement That seems to have been consigned to history, along with his all-too-brief stint in Lisbon. Benfica will only delight in this reunion if they win, but recent history suggests Fernandez could play a big part in sending them home. 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The Guardian
4 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Enzo Maresca intent on resisting interest in Chelsea defender Josh Acheampong
Enzo Maresca has said that Chelsea have no intention of selling Josh Acheampong this summer. Several clubs in England and Europe are tracking the 19-year-old defender but it is understood that there is no plan for him to leave Stamford Bridge at the moment. Sources close to Acheampong have privately said that suggestions that the youngster is frustrated at Chelsea are incorrect. Acheampong, who started at right-back in Chelsea's win over Esperance in the Club World Cup last Tuesday, signed a new five-year contract last year and enjoyed a breakthrough campaign under Maresca last season. The academy product will only go on loan if he agrees with the club that it is best for his development but the long-term plan remains for him to thrive at Chelsea. 'The clubs that you mentioned, they like Josh, but we also like Josh,' Maresca said. 'Any club likes good players. My plan with Josh is quite clear. I said many times that I really like Josh. 'I think he potentially can be a top defender for this club. It's on him to have the right timing to do the things. We are full of young players here, full of talented players, even defenders. So I think the best plan for Josh is to be with us and I'm very happy if he's going to be with us.' Chelsea face Benfica in the last 16 in Charlotte on Saturday afternoon. It will be the first time that Enzo Fernandez faces Benfica since leaving them for £106.7m two years ago. Fernandez has the most goal involvements (14) of any Chelsea player in 2025. 'I am very pleased with Enzo,' Maresca said. 'Firstly because he's a nice boy, he's polite. And then because with us, since we started, he's working very well in all the aspects, inside the pitch, outside the pitch. 'We said already many times that with us this season's struggle will be at the beginning to understand the way we want to play. But then he's doing fantastic in terms of numbers, goals, assist. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion 'This is what we want from our attacking players. I said many times that I prefer to have the attacking players score 10 to 12 goals each than just a striker with 40 goals. His contribution this season has been top, and for sure next season will be even better.'
The Independent
4 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Enzo Fernandez ‘will be even better' next season insists Enzo Maresca
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca expects Enzo Fernandez to get even better as he prepares for a reunion with his former club Benfica. The Argentina midfielder, signed from the Portuguese giants for a then British record £106.8million two years ago, took time to find his feet at Stamford Bridge. But he excelled in the second half of the 2024-25 season, finishing the campaign with eight goals, and has continued to shine at the Club World Cup. The 24-year-old scored in the opening win over Los Angeles FC and created two goals in as many minutes as the Blues beat Esperance Tunis 3-0 in their final group game on Tuesday. Their reward is a last-16 clash with Benfica in Charlotte on Saturday. Maresca told reporters at his pre-match press conference: 'I'm very pleased with Enzo, especially because, first of all, he's a nice boy. He's polite, he's a good boy. 'Then he's worked very well in all aspects inside the pitch, outside the pitch. Our struggle at the beginning was (for him) to understand the way we want to play. 'But he is doing fantastic in terms of numbers, goal assists. This is what we want from our attacking players. 'I've said many times that I prefer to have the attacking players score 10-12 goal each, rather than just a striker with 40 goals. 'So his contribution this season has been top and I am sure next season will be even better.' Despite that, Fernandez could face competition for his place after Maresca suggested he sees Brazilian Andrey Santos more as an attacking player than a defensive one. The highly-rated 21-year-old has rejoined the club this summer after a successful loan spell at Strasbourg and made his debut as a second-half substitute against Esperance. Maresca said: 'His season has been very good but I think you need time to adapt. 'In terms of position, I see Andrey in this moment in more like Enzo's position than Romeo's (Lavia) position. 'The Premier League demands (players) to be physically strong. In this moment, I see Andrey more of an attacking player than defensive in the field.' Maresca added that he hopes 19-year-old defender Josh Acheampong will stay with the club despite being linked with Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund. He said: 'My idea or my plan with Josh is quite clear. I think he potentially can be a top defender for this club. I feel the best plan for Josh is to be with us.' Maresca would also like England international Trevoh Chalobah to stay, but offered no guarantees. He said: 'All the players that are here with us, I don't want to lose them but when the transfer window is open, unfortunately, anything can happen – not only for Trevoh, for (all) the 25 players of the squad.' Maresca expects a tight contest against Benfica. He said: 'It's going to be a balanced game, a tough game. In this kind of game the small details are very important.'
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chelsea boss Maresca hails Fernandez ahead of Benfica Club World Cup clash
Enzo Fernandez in action for Chelsea against Esperance at the Club World Cup (FRANCK FIFE) Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca on Friday hailed the contribution of playmaker Enzo Fernandez as the Argentinian prepares to come up against his old team Benfica at the Club World Cup. "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," Maresca told reporters in Charlotte. Advertisement That is where the sides will face off on Saturday in the last 16 of FIFA's expanded competition. Fernandez was a vital cog in the Chelsea side that finished fourth in the Premier League to qualify for next season's Champions League, and also featured in their run to the UEFA Conference League title. At the Club World Cup he came off the bench at half-time to score the second goal in the 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC in their opening game. The 24-year-old has started both matches since, and laid on two goals in the 3-0 victory against Esperance of Tunisia in Philadelphia which clinched Chelsea's place in the last 16. Advertisement Fernandez was signed from Benfica in February 2023 for a British transfer record fee at the time of £107 million ($147 million). In 2025 he has scored and assisted a total of 14 goals. "This 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," Maresca added. "This is what I want from attacking players -- I have said many times that I prefer to have attacking players with 10-12 goals each than just one striker with 40 goals. "His contribution has been top and I am sure it will be even better next season." Advertisement Chelsea have won all three previous competitive meetings with Benfica, the last coming in the Europa League final in 2013. But Maresca is wary of the Portuguese side after they beat Bayern Munich to top their group at the competition. "I think Benfica, not only in this competition, have always shown how big a club they are in Europe," said the coach. "In the last game they beat Bayern so they showed what they can do. Every game is tough and complicated, and anything can happen." If Chelsea win they will head to Philadelphia for a quarter-final on July 4. as/bb
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Will Enzo Fernandez be punished for racism row? Latest update on Chelsea star's inflammatory song about Kylian Mbappe
ENZ GAME Will Enzo Fernandez be punished for racism row? Latest update on Chelsea star's inflammatory song about Kylian Mbappe ENZO FERNANDEZ takes on his old club Benfica tonight at the heart of the Chelsea revolution under boss Enzo Maresca. The Portuguese giants made a staggering £96million PROFIT when they sold the Argentinian midfielder to the Blues in 2023 — just six months after buying him for £10m. Advertisement 2 Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez will take on former side Benfica at the Club World Cup Credit: Getty 2 It comes nearly a year on from his racism storm with Argentina Even so, the fixture reopens old wounds over his departure — and a most unsavoury incident which took place a year ago next month. Benfica were angry at the way they claimed Chelsea unsettled their player and then ducked and dived during negotiations. But that's business. What is not 'business' is the cloud of racism hanging over the Blues' vice-captain that is not yet fully cleared. Fans back in England have seen plenty of great football from Fernandez this past 12 months. Advertisement WATCH EVERY MATCH OF THE CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 LIVE ON DAZN But nothing has been heard from the authorities charged with investigating the moment of madness that has followed the player around since he went viral for all the wrong reasons. Fernandez, 24, was filmed heartily joining in with dreadful songs alongside his Argentina team-mates questioning the heritage of black French players. The midfielder had just won Copa America for his country, only to let himself down massively when he should have been in a celebratory mood. Advertisement With a large contingent of black French players in Chelsea's squad — Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto, Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi — the reaction was understandably incendiary. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS The Instagram post also carried a transphobic jibe at French superstar Kylian Mbappe and a reported relationship with transgender model Ines Rau. Fernandez apologised profusely. Fofana and those affected by the bombshell video say they have accepted it and have moved on. Advertisement Chelsea vs Tottenham fan battle - 'Kane's better than Drogba at EVERYTHING' | Stoppage Time There certainly does not appear to be any disharmony over it within the Chelsea camp. For that, those players in the dressing room who were so hurt by the rash actions of a team-mate deserve unreserved respect and admiration. News of a 'probe' being launched was posted on social media not long after Argentina had beaten Colombia 1-0 in the final yet there is still no conclusion. Fifa says it is the responsibility of South America's governing body Conmebol and SunSport has contacted them for an update — but is yet to receive a reply. Advertisement Fernandez made a donation to an anti-discrimination charity as well as saying sorry to his team-mates, say Chelsea. And the club also claimed they would use the episode as an opportunity to 're-educate' their player. At the last time of asking there was no clear detail available of what that actually entails. The club wants to keep it in-house. And, in a remarkable show of defiance, new head coach Maresca backed his man by making him captain for the opening Premier League game of last season against Manchester City. Advertisement Fernandez appears to have put the whole thing behind him and is now a key figure in a team that is back in the Champions League. But the silence around the investigation into a moment of madness that went worldwide within hours — and damaged the reputation of a fine player and an upstanding football club — is deafening.
