In a devastating blow to Chelsea's pre-season preparations, star midfielder Enzo Fernández has been officially ruled out of action following successful surgery on a persistent groin injury. The £107 million record signing will miss the entire pre-season period, leaving new manager Enzo Maresca with a significant selection headache.
International Duty Ends in Surgery
The Argentine international travelled to the United States for a specialised surgical procedure after struggling with the injury throughout the latter part of last season. Despite the discomfort, Fernández managed to feature in 41 matches across all competitions for the Blues, demonstrating remarkable resilience before the problem became untenable.
Maresca's Midfield Dilemma
New Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca now faces an immediate challenge as he attempts to implement his tactical system without his key midfield architect. The absence comes at the worst possible time, with pre-season being crucial for building fitness and understanding the manager's philosophy.
Chelsea's medical team has confirmed that Fernández will require an extensive rehabilitation period, though the club remains hopeful he could return to action sooner than initially anticipated. The situation echoes last season's injury crisis that saw multiple key players sidelined simultaneously.
Pre-Season Plans Disrupted
With the Premier League season rapidly approaching, Maresca must now reconsider his midfield options. The Italian manager may need to accelerate the development of younger players or consider tactical adjustments to compensate for the absence of his midfield linchpin.
This setback represents the first major challenge of Maresca's tenure and will test the squad's depth early in the new campaign. Chelsea fans will be anxiously awaiting updates on their record signing's recovery timeline as the club prepares for crucial early-season fixtures.
