Chelsea Secures Crucial Victory Against Wolves as Enzo Fernandez Shines

Following a convincing win against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, Chelsea achieved their second consecutive victory, overpowering relegation-threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge. Under the management of Enzo Maresca, Chelsea displayed dominance from the outset, coming close to scoring multiple times in the first half. Captain Enzo Fernandez was particularly impressive, orchestrating play from the midfield.

Chelsea finally broke the deadlock shortly after halftime with a goal from Malo Gusto, and Joao Pedro subsequently extended the lead. Pedro Neto capped off the impressive performance with a third goal, securing an essential victory for the Blues. This win elevated Chelsea to second place in the league standings, now six points behind leaders Arsenal.

Alejandro Garnacho, a former Manchester United player who has recently become a fixture in Maresca’s starting lineup, contributed significantly with two assists, signaling a resurgence in form as he gains the full confidence of his head coach.

In a post-match interview, Maresca surprisingly revealed his apprehension about facing a struggling Wolves team, remarking, “I was very worried before this game. These are the worst games, they’re tricky. Everyone is thinking it’s going to be easy. I can understand that in the first half people were not happy because we didn’t score. However, when Estevao came on, the energy raised because people love that kind of player.”

Maresca also praised young talent Estevao, who made a notable impact after coming on as a substitute in the second half. He stated, “You can see his talent. We are trying to help him adapt and give him the right minutes. He arrived from Brazil needing time to adjust, but he will start games for us in the future. He came from a club where he wasn’t training at full capacity, so his physical condition was initially poor. However, he is improving steadily. He understands that to play with us, he needs to excel both on and off the ball; otherwise, he will not be featured in the lineup. We are very pleased with his progress.”

In contrast, Wolves’ caretaker manager James Collins addressed the team’s ongoing struggle following another league defeat, asserting, “The boys are united and working hard. There are no cliques; they are very cohesive. We have work to do, and we need to improve. There are many games left in the season, and our campaign will not be defined solely by the loss to Chelsea.”

After his standout performance, Fernandez, awarded the player-of-the-match, disclosed that he has been coping with a knee injury and will not be available for Argentina during the upcoming international friendlies. He explained, “I will not be available with Argentina. I have been discussing my condition with the medical team due to a knee issue I have been managing for the past four months. I came in with a bone edema that has worsened due to our busy schedule. The priority is to be fit for the end of the season, and I believe it’s wise to make this decision collaboratively, always respecting the medical team’s advice.”

Maresca will be hoping for a swift recovery for his captain during the international break, with the team’s next match scheduled against Burnley on November 22.