Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez struggled to live up to his hefty price tag following his arrival at the club in January last year but the Argentine says his recent upturn in form is down to developing a good understanding with coach Enzo Maresca.
Fernandez, who cost Chelsea 106mn pounds ($132mn), started six of their first seven league matches this season but failed to impress and was dropped to the bench in place of Romeo Lavia. However, since his return to the side last month Fernandez has looked revitalised, bagging three goals and four assists in seven Premier League games and helping Chelsea climb to second.
“I learned the position in which I had to play, over time I got the idea of what the coach wanted,” Fernandez told in an interview. “He (Maresca) explained to me what he wanted and I was getting the concept, reading the games. There is still a long way to go. On a personal level I have been feeling very good. The team has shown a very strong character, always working and with humility and showing that great things can be achieved. There is still a long way to go.”
Chelsea next host London rivals Fulham today before travelling to face Ipswich Town.
New Southampton manager Juric promises high-intensity ‘death metal’ style
Ivan Juric said he will try to implement a high-intensity brand of football at Southampton as he bids to guide the Premier League strugglers out of the relegation zone. The former Croatia midfielder, who was appointed on an 18-month contract on Saturday, was previously in charge of AS Roma but was dismissed in November after only 12 matches in charge.
“When I was young I liked death metal music a lot, and that’s something I think my style of football is like,” Juric told reporters. “Work hard, press hard, play good, be intense, all this stuff. I think (the players) can do it. They are young, they are positive, they want to work hard. It’s not easy to change the style immediately, but we have to be clever.”
Bottom of the league with six points from 17 matches, Southampton are winless in their last seven league games and sit eight points adrift of safety. “I know it will be a very tough job and I know that in the history nobody has stayed in the Premier League from this situation,” the 49-year-old said.
Enzo Fernandez
