“He's been absolutely fantastic” - Ex-Chelsea star highlights what coach Enzo Maresca had done to help Enzo Fernandes amid upturn in form

Former Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel has hailed club manager Enzo Maresca for turning around the form of Argentine star Enzo Fernandez. The World Cup winner has been in fabulous form for the west London club, bagging three goals and as many assists in his last five games.

Fernandez joined the English side in January 2023 after helping his nation to glory at the Winter World Cup in Qatar from Benfica for a reported €121 million. Since then, he has made 81 appearances since he signed for the Blues, scoring 10 times and providing 12 assists.

Mikel, a Stamford bridge legend for his 372 games for the club that led to two Premier League and UEFA Champions League glory, spoke of how impressed he was with the Argentine's performances.

He said via Tribal Football:

"Sometimes you need that kick up your backside to get you to wake up. His performances weren't good at the start of the season and everyone was complaining. I think the manager took him out the firing line to protect him a little bit. Now, he's brought him back into the team. You can see his stats there. Absolutely fantastic."

"He's been absolutely fantastic since coming back into the team, and he is the captain right now. We need him to lead by example on the pitch," he added.

Enzo Fernandez is contracted to Chelsea until the summer of 2032 and will be keen to establish himself as a club legend. The West London side will face FC Astana in the UEFA Conference League tomorrow (December 12).

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"There are Chelsea agents here in Brazil who speak to you" - Brazilian star discusses potential move to London giants

Brazilian star Estevao spoke about the extent of discussions he has had with Chelsea in a recent interview. The English side has signed the talented forward for a reported €34 million fee in a deal that will go through in the summer of 2025 after he turns 18.

The Palmerias star is one of the most highly rated young football players, with 15 goals and 10 assists from 2768 minutes across 46 games for the Brazilian side.

In a recent interview with ESPN, Estevao discussed the contact and discussions with the Blues ahead of his move. He said via FotMob:

"There are Chelsea agents here in Brazil who speak to you, [Cole] Palmer speaks to me on Instagram. There's [Reece] James who said that if I needed anything I should speak to him. Thiago Silva spoke to me in that last game. He said that the club is top and they are waiting for me with open arms. I'm learning English, it's hard, it's a good technique [to watch films without subtitles], music... I haven't visited Chelsea yet, but if I have the opportunity, now on vacation, I'll get to know the structure."

Estevao is currently on holiday after a successful campaign with his boyhood club. He won the Brazilian Championship in 2023, and his next confirmed fixture with the side will be the FIFA Club World Cup, where his side is slated to face FC Porto.