Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, has addressed the speculations surrounding midfielder Enzo Fernandez's half-time substitution during their recent 8-0 victory against Noah. The decision left fans questioning whether the Argentine international had sustained an injury.
The match was a complete mismatch of quality between Chelsea and Armenian minnows Noah. With Chelsea leading 6-0 at half-time, it was clear that they were in a league of their own. Despite having no business being in the Europa Conference League due to their superior quality, they find themselves there after a few challenging seasons.
However, this doesn't mean they're taking it lightly. On the contrary, Chelsea is determined to win and unfortunately for teams like Noah; they are bearing the brunt of this determination.
Missteps by Noah’s management
Noah’s management didn’t do them any favors with how they set up their team for this match. Their overly offensive strategy left them vulnerable to Chelsea's relentless attacks which resulted in an avalanche of goals against them.
Enzo Fernandez played an instrumental role during his time on the pitch by setting up several early goals for Chelsea before he was substituted at half-time when his team was comfortably ahead. This unexpected move sparked questions about possible injury concerns among fans and pundits alike.
No injury concerns
Maresca clarified that there were no injury concerns regarding Fernandez and his substitution was merely tactical. He explained that it provided an opportunity for other players to get some minutes on the pitch given how easily they were winning.
Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, said:
“He’s okay. It was just a technical decision. No more than that, he is okay.”
Maresca hinted that Sunday's game might have influenced his decision to substitute Fernandez early on against Noah. He suggested that he might be considering starting him against Arsenal or giving him significant minutes off the bench.
IChelsea's recent match against Noah was a display of their superior quality and determination to win the Europa Conference League trophy. The substitution of Fernandez at half-time was a strategic decision by Maresca, not influenced by any injury concerns but rather looking ahead to future matches.
