‘We played better without him’ — Chelsea fans blast Enzo Fernandez over his worst performance against Luton Town

Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez and Mauricio Pochettino | Imago

‘We played better without him’ — Chelsea fans blast Enzo Fernandez over his worst performance against Luton Town

Ayoola Kelechi 16:49 - 30.12.2023

Enzo Fernandez' time at Chelsea could be over sooner than expected, as the Argentine midfielder appears to have fallen out of favour with the Blues' fans

Chelsea faced a tough challenge against Luton Town on December 30, 2023, narrowly clinching a 3-2 victory, despite going three goals up.

The game was characterized by intense pressure from Luton, especially in the first half, but Chelsea managed to hold their ground and take advantage of key moments to secure the win.

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.co.ke/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

Cole Palmer was a standout performer, scoring two crucial goals, while Noni Madueke also netted a goal and showed commendable defensive effort​​​​.

Enzo Fernandez's Performance

Enzo Fernandez, signed after his World Cup heroics, had limited impact after coming off the bench.

Enzo Fernandez against Luton | Imago
Enzo Fernandez against Luton | Imago

This performance came against the backdrop of an injury struggle since Fernandez was nursing a hernia, and there was uncertainty about his participation until the last moment​​​​.

Fan Reactions to Enzo Fernandez

Despite his limited role in this match, some fans expressed disappointment over Fernandez's performance.

The reaction can be attributed to the high expectations placed on him due to his previous achievements.

Fans often expect consistent high-level performances from star players, and when these expectations are not met, it can lead to criticism.

Chelsea Injury Concerns

The match also highlighted Chelsea's broader injury concerns. Key players like Reece James and Ben Chilwell are sidelined, putting pressure on the squad's depth. The return of players like Fernandez is eagerly awaited, but the team has been buoyed by the rise of young talents like Palmer and Madueke​​.

Romeo Lavia making his Premier League debut for Chelsea in a London derby against Wolves || Image credit: Imago
Romeo Lavia making his Premier League debut for Chelsea in a London derby against Wolves || Image credit: Imago

While Fernandez's performance against Luton Town wasn't his best, it's essential to view it in the context of his recent injury and the overall team dynamics. Chelsea's victory, despite these challenges, underscores the team's resilience and depth.

Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea midfielder || Credit: Imago
Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea midfielder || Credit: Imago

As the season progresses, the team will hope for the return of injured players and continue to rely on the contributions of both experienced and emerging talents.

Related content

I'm worried about Lavia — Pochettino
FOOTBALL

15:50 - 28.12.2023

I'm worried about Lavia — Pochettino

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino sweats over the injury situation of Romeo Lavia after the Balgium international felt physical discomfort following his debut in the win over Crystal Palace.