Fernandez has shown flashes of brilliance since arriving in January (Picture: Getty)
Paul Merson has warned Enzo Fernandez will grow frustrated at Chelsea unless the club quickly address their uninspiring form.
The Blues endured their worst ever Premier League season last term, slumped in 12th place with just 44 points and a negative goal difference after a tumultuous campaign at Stamford Bridge.
Mauricio Pochettino was brought in this summer to steer the club back to the top but have won just one of their opening four league games – at home to newly-promoted Luton Town.
That slump comes despite enormous spending with west London with over £1billion spent since the summer of 2022.
Fernandez became the club’s record signing in January – a record since broken by Moises Caicedo’s arrival from Brighton – with his performances a bright spark during a difficult period for supporters.
Merson believes Chelsea have made the mistake of signing ‘too many players that are the same’ with Fernandez a notable exception.
But the former Arsenal star has questioned how long the Argentina international will tolerate an under-performing side.
Merson says Fernandez is ‘a cut above the rest’ at Chelsea (Picture: Getty)
‘Mauricio Pochettino will get it right because he’s a good manager, but it’s going to be hard. If they get in the top four then they will be pulling up trees,’ Merson wrote for Sky Sports.
‘They’ve bought too many players that are the same. Enzo Fernandez is different class – a cut above the rest. But how long will he stand for this?
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‘There’s not enough guile in the team. You haven’t got players that will put the ball through the eye of a needle.
‘Teams will go to Stamford Bridge, set up 10 players behind the ball and counter-attack. I said on Saturday that Chelsea would get beaten 1-0. I know how they struggle against teams that play 10 at the back.
‘They can’t break teams down. It’s like watching Subbuteo football – there’s no movement. Unless Fernandez finds that killer pass, no one else will.’
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