Enzo Fernandez has explained why he initially found life "very difficult" at Chelsea.
Fernandez moved to Stamford Bridge from Benfica in January of 2023, with the Blues paying a club and Premier League record £106.8 million for his services.
The Argentine midfielder, however, failed to replicate the form he'd showed for Benfica in his early days in West London, coming under heavy fire for his performances.
In his first full season at the Bridge, he again struggled, with Chelsea boasting a much better win percentage with him out of the team. He also missed 10 games with injury.
Reflecting on his tough start to life at Chelsea in an interview with the club's official website, Fernandez said: "When I arrived it was very difficult, the first year and a half here: change of coaches, the club wasn't doing well, personal injuries."
"I was not satisfied with what I had been showing, then I got injured, many adverse things happened," he explained.
Fernandez again endured a hit-and-miss start to this season under new manager Enzo Maresca.
The 23-year-old had been a nailed-on starter for Maresca's Blues in the early etchings of the campaign, starting six of the club's first seven Premier League games.
In mid-October, however, he was then dropped to the bench for a number of weeks in favour of Romeo Lavia.
But he's since returned to Maresca's starting line-up, and is now in the best form of his Chelsea career.
In his last nine games for the Blues, Fernandez has scored three goals and provided an impressive seven assists, including one for the decisive goal in Chelsea's recent 2-1 win over Brentford.
On his new lease of life at the Bridge, Fernandez told the club's website: "I learned the position in which I had to play, over time I got the idea of what the coach wanted."
"He explained to me what he wanted and I was getting the concept, reading the games. There is still a long way to go," he added. "On a personal level I have been feeling very good. The team has shown a very strong character, always working with humility, and showing that great things can be achieved."
Comments