Chelsea Receive Significant Update on Enzo Fernandez’s Injury, Return Strategy Set Before Pre-Season
Chelsea Receives Update on Fernandez’s Injury with Clear Return Plan
Chelsea’s injury update reveals positive news about Enzo Fernandez’s fitness ahead of a significant summer for both the player and the club.
Enzo Fernandez has been named in Lionel Scaloni’s preliminary squad for Argentina as they prepare for the Copa America this summer. Despite missing Chelsea’s final six matches of the season due to surgery for a long-standing injury, the 22-year-old midfielder remains in contention.
Argentina, the reigning World Cup champions, are set to play friendlies against Ecuador and Guatemala next month before starting their Copa America campaign. Scaloni’s initial squad of 26 will be trimmed down before the competitive matches begin two weeks later.
Fernandez’s season was marred by injury, causing him to play through pain for an extended period. He explained online, “I needed surgery after enduring pain for about six months. I managed to avoid it with injections and medication, but the pain became unbearable recently, affecting my training and performance. I didn’t want to miss games.” Despite these challenges, Fernandez made 40 appearances for Chelsea, though he couldn’t replicate the performance levels of his initial months in England.
Looking ahead, Fernandez aims for a strong summer to regain top form for Chelsea. If he secures a spot in Argentina’s final 23-man squad and reaches the Copa America final, he would have just two weeks of rest before Chelsea’s pre-season tour in America, beginning with a match against Wrexham.
Chelsea’s players will be returning from various international commitments, including a significant number expected to participate in Euro 2024 in Germany, before heading to the USA. Whether Mauricio Pochettino will remain as manager at that time is still uncertain.
Reflecting on the season’s end, Fernandez praised his fellow Argentine, Pochettino, stating, “When I arrived, the situation was chaotic with many players. Mauricio brought order and identity to the team, changing everything positively. The team now works harder and more seriously, which shows on match days.”
The Copa America starts on June 20 and runs for three weeks. Chelsea is set to play five matches over two weeks following the tournament before the Premier League season begins on August 17.
