Enzo Fernandez predicts next season and explains Chelsea struggles this season
Enzo Fernandez admits the start to his Chelsea career ‘wasn’t easy’ but is confident next season will be more fruitful for him and the team.
Fernandez became the most expensive signing in Premier League history when he completed a £107m move to Stamford Bridge from Benfica at the start of 2023.
The 23-year-old had just starred in Argentina’s World Cup win and left Qatar with the best young player of the tournament award.
Despite Fernandez’s form for club and country prior to joining Chelsea, he endured a difficult first few months in the Premier League and admits it was tough adapting to his new surroundings.
He says he is now ‘more settled’ and enjoying his football once more, though he is ‘a little frustrated’ by Chelsea’s performances across the 2023-24 campaign.
Having spent over £1billion on new signings, Chelsea were expected to at least challenge for a Champions League place but instead they have been languishing in mid-table for most of the season.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side scored two injury-time goals to stun Manchester United on Thursday night but the win only saw them climb to 10th in the Premier League, a whopping 27 points behind leaders Liverpool.
Fernandez is ‘not happy’ with his team’s form but believes next season will be ‘better’ as the young squad continue to develop.
Speaking to DAZN after Chelsea’s remarkable 4-3 win over United, Fernandez said: ‘The first six months weren’t easy, changing country, language, I had a child…
‘It wasn’t easy coming here, but now everything is better, I’m more settled and enjoying it.
‘Of course, I’m not happy with the position we’re in, I don’t like losing, it frustrates me a little, but you have to accept this process. There are a lot of young players, and next season will be better.’
Chelsea were two goals to the good against United inside 20 minutes thanks to Conor Gallagher’s early opener and Cole Palmer’s penalty.
But Erik ten Hag’s side, still battling for a top-four finish, turned the game on its head through Alejandro Garnacho’s brace and a Bruno Fernandes header.
United were on the verge of three crucial points but conceded an injury-time penalty that Palmer converted before the ex-Manchester City star smashed home a dramatic winner.
