Enzo Fernandez is beginning to present why Enzo Maresca made the £107m man captain, writes KIERAN GILL

On the danger of reciting a garbage Craig David remake, Enzo Fernandez’s build-up to chilling on Sunday was an enervating one value recounting, given its grand conclusion with Chelsea.

It began at La Bombonera, the house of Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires, at 12.01am UK time on Wednesday when Fernandez began for Argentina of their World Cup qualifying win over Peru, finishing the total 90 minutes with the ultimate whistle being blown at 1.57am.

After that 1-0 victory believed to be confirmed in entrance of household, together with his kids Olivia and Benjamin, and pals, corresponding to his consultant Uriel Perez, got here the journey house to London which lasted practically 7,000 miles and 15 hours as night time was falling within the capital upon his touchdown.

By 1.30pm on Thursday, Fernandez was again at Cobham to coach with Chelsea, arriving carrying a cup of the South American favorite mate and two pairs of Nike Phantoms, prepared for work as Nicolas Jackson and Moises Caicedo have been the primary team-mates he greeted affectionally.

The identical routine was repeated besides barely earlier on Friday as they then boarded the workforce bus travelling to Leicester.

Chelsea arrived on the King Energy Stadium from their lodge at 11.03am on Saturday with two buses, one carrying the squad, the opposite their teaching workers together with Enzo Maresca who waved at his former followers gathered by the doorway. 

Fernandez was among the many first to disembark as captain for the day in gentle of Reece James’s hamstring harm. Come 12.30pm, the £106.8million man was lining up alongside Caicedo in midfield, his first begin within the Premier League since early October.

He was most well-liked to Romeo Lavia, for good cause on this event as Fernandez assisted Jackson for Chelsea’s first, scored their second, and ran 11.6km after one other full 90 – the best distance coated by a participant in a match below Maresca this season.

If the 23-year-old desires to start out over Lavia, dedication corresponding to this can not harm his possibilities. Nor does it set the worst instance when he’s carrying the armband after a summer time by which he sparked controversy with the video from the Copa America celebrations.

Quick ahead three months from when that shadow was solid over Chelsea’s sunny tour of america, Fernandez’s title was being chanted by supporters at full-time on Saturday, with the away contingent handled to a glimpse of why he price a lot cash from Benfica in January 2023.

Leicester boss Steve Cooper spent most of his post-match press conferences complaining in regards to the refereeing workforce led by Andy Madley, maybe conveniently ignoring how his personal participant Wilfred Ndidi may have been purple carded for an unpleasant problem on Cole Palmer.

Actually, Maresca had Cooper’s quantity tactically, regardless of Chelsea being pressured into modifications by way of harm and sickness. Marc Cucurella virtually performed as a left winger as an alternative of a left again, which allowed Joao Felix to maneuver inside into his most well-liked central place, close to Palmer.

Levi Colwill was used as a right-sided centre again for the primary time this season somewhat than left-sided which meant, when Cucurella departed the defence, he was manning the three shuffling throughout. 

That was regardless of Colwill being unwell and even collapsing in a heap at full-time as workers rushed to his help. The 21-year-old Englishman had Benoit Badiashile – spectacular in his first Premier League begin of the season – on his left and Wesley Fofana – a centre again – filling in at proper again with James and Malo Gusto each sidelined. 

Noni Madueke helped defensively as he dropped so deep that Chelsea shaped a again 5 when Leicester had prolonged spells of possession, uncommon although they have been.

After which there was Fernandez, chosen with Lavia having solely lately returned from a hamstring subject. 

His attacking instincts benefitted Chelsea drastically to present Maresca meals for thought with German aspect Heidenheim within the Convention League this Thursday adopted by Aston Villa within the Premier League on Sunday. One more relentless week, as Craig David can relate.