Enzo Maresca
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has provided an update on Enzo Fernandez’s fitness ahead of the club’s crucial UEFA Champions League match against Ajax. The 24-year-old midfielder was notably absent from Chelsea’s recent Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Fernandez had withdrawn from the Argentina national team during the October international break due to knee inflammation. Despite having played 78 minutes in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Venezuela, he missed the subsequent 6-0 triumph against Puerto Rico and was not fit enough to feature in Chelsea’s latest squad.
Enzo Maresca said: “Enzo took part in the session yesterday. We have one more session this afternoon and we will decide with him tomorrow. It is not something we have to be worried about. We are trying to adapt.”
Fernandez’s absence has been a concern for Chelsea, especially with the Champions League fixture against Ajax looming. However, Maresca’s comments suggest that the midfielder’s condition is being managed carefully, with the club prioritizing his long-term fitness over immediate participation.
In addition to Fernandez’s situation, Maresca also addressed the status of striker Liam Delap, who has been sidelined since Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Fulham due to an injury sustained before the September international break.
Maresca said: “Liam is very close. He is not working with us yet. He is still out. Hopefully, in the next days, he can start training with us.”
With Delap unavailable, 19-year-old striker Marc Guiu is eager to make his mark. Guiu, who was recalled from a loan spell at Sunderland, impressed when introduced at half-time during the weekend’s match. Maresca expressed confidence in Guiu’s abilities and potential contributions to the team.
Maresca said: “We have him and Tyrique. He can play as a number nine. We have different options – we will see after the session this afternoon. We trust Marc. We trust him last year, he was playing in the Conference League. We gave him some Premier League games. He will play games for us, for sure.”
As Chelsea prepares to host Ajax at Stamford Bridge, Maresca emphasized the challenge posed by the Dutch side, known for their attacking style of play.
Maresca said: “They always try to play their football. For sure, it will be a difficult game. We were not happy with the result at Bayern but the performance, we were happy with.”
Chelsea’s encounter with Ajax is set to be a significant test, following their recent experiences against European giants like Bayern Munich and Benfica. The Blues are keen to capitalize on the lessons learned from these encounters as they aim to secure a positive result against Ajax.
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