Chelsea must make right call on big-game player Enzo Fernandez after clutch Wembley moment | OneFootball

BlueCo should make an exception to familiar transfer strategy with Argentine star crucial to future ambitions

Chelsea’s players slowly headed for the Wembley tunnel, at last able to enjoy full-time after weeks of dashing inside to take cover from a barrage of boos from their own supporters.

As Enzo Fernandez made his way towards the dressing room, an arm landed on his shoulder and interim head coach Calum McFarlane, recalling Fernandez’s stoppage-time leveller at Manchester City in January, remarked: “You like scoring at the back post for me, don’t you.” They shared a laugh.

The Argentine scored again on Sunday and that proved enough as Chelsea finally beat Leeds at the third time of asking this season, and with a third different manager in the dugout.

Victory granted a return to Wembley to contest next month’s FA Cup final, against a City side whom Fernandez has been linked with ahead of the summer transfer window.

There are crucial games up first in the fight for Europe, against Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, but when that cup final arrives, McFarlane will be counting on Fernandez as much as anyone to produce another clutch moment on the big stage.

Fernandez wore the captain’s armband from the start of a match for the first time for Chelsea since making public comments on his future and Madrid during the March international break.

Fernandez’s agent, Javier Pastore, speaking about plans to review his situation at Chelsea at the end of the season hardly helped matters.

That all served to damage Chelsea and a two-game ban imposed on him by the club should not have come as much of a surprise.

The 25-year-old apologised, served the suspension and is back now. While Liam Rosenior is no longer around to benefit, McFarlane got the leadership, fight and goalscoring instinct from Fernandez on Sunday.

Captain’s performance: Enzo Fernandez skippered Chelsea from the start against Leeds at Wembley

Getty

Fernandez’s future is by no means certain. He is a World Cup winner with lofty ambitions and if he feels Chelsea cannot compete for the most meaningful silverware regularly, then he would look to move to a club that can.

Chelsea will not break even on Fernandez’s book value following his £107million move from Benfica unless they sell him for around £80m, which feels an unlikely ask.

Yet the club’s transfer strategy under BlueCo cannot be solely driven by buying low and selling higher.

Some players are not assets on which to make a profit. Some are worth keeping around and benefiting from in a football sense, not on a balance sheet.

Fernandez, at least for the moment, is in that category. The midfielder has scored against Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain this season and only one of his 11 Premier League goal contributions so far came in a game that Chelsea lost.

His attacking output was enjoyed by Enzo Maresca, Rosenior, and now by McFarlane. During a run-in where Chelsea are determined to secure European football and now have an FA Cup final to play, Fernandez will be vital to their chances.

Only Morgan Gibbs-White has scored more goals this season across all competitions than Fernandez among Premier League midfielders, and the Argentine's defensive acumen is greater than many of the others who rank highly on that list.

During Cole Palmer’s struggles, Fernandez has become Chelsea’s best example of a big-game player. Perhaps alongside captain Reece James, he is also their most well-rounded.

McFarlane admitted after the Leeds game that Fernandez’s goalscoring in particular is something Chelsea “rely on” and that it explains why he has shifted up from the No8 position to become a more regular No10 this season.

“He's such a threat in the box,” McFarlane said. “He can drop down and he can drift, but the higher up you play him, he can really cause oppositions problems in that left half-space and attacking the back stick.”

He's a winner. He's got so much talent, he's got so much fight, he's massive for this group

Calum McFarlane on Enzo Fernandez

His competitive edge and will to win are just as important to Chelsea.

“He's a winner. He's got so much talent, he's got so much fight, he's massive for this group,” McFarlane added.

Chelsea’s nosedive in form began in the 33 minutes after Fernandez had wheeled away and kissed the badge after scoring to make it 2-2 against PSG at the Parc des Princes on March 11. It ended with his headed goal on Sunday.

There was something pertinent about two poacher's goals from Fernandez bookending either side of those six miserable weeks. When Chelsea are on song, it is almost always the case that he is too.