One Chelsea star needs to step up and earn Blues 3 points after getting this international break blessing | OneFootball

Chelsea went into the international break with injuries mounting up, and the last fortnight has added more and seen some key players depleted by appearances for their national team.

As many as 13 players are doubts for the game according to our last count, and already the squad is being stretched to its limits.

Players like Moises Caicedo simply can’t be expected to play 90 minutes with such a short turnaround.

Fernandez rest a silver lining from punishing fortnight

Enzo Fernandez celebrates his goal. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

The only sliver of good news on top of all that is that at least one midfielder got a rest during the last fortnight.

Enzo Fernandez was banned for Argentine after picking up a red card back in their last set of fixtures, so he got to rest and recuperate back at Cobham instead of flying around the world with his compatriots.

He’s become a key figure for Maresca’s side, and in the context of so many players potentially missing out, his presence is vital. In his press conference yesterday, the manager explained how impressed he had been with Enzo’s improvements:

“Enzo is a great player. He struggled a little bit at the beginning of last season to understand what we want from him, then in the moment he understood the situation, he has been a much better player,” Maresca explained to the Chelsea official website.

“I see Enzo more as an attacking midfielder. The numbers also show that in terms of goals and assists. Hopefully, he can continue in the same way.”

Enzo need to dig in defensively against tough Brentford

It will be another game today where we need him at his very best. He has been great at getting into the box and scoring goals in the last 12 months, but today we’ll need him to focus on doing his defensive work too and covering for the likely absent Caicedo.