25 April 2024 , 14:54
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Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has undergone inguinal hernia surgery with the hope of being fully fit for the Copa America with Argentina.
Fernandez, whose season is now over, has been playing through the pain barrier in recent weeks and his performance levels have therefore taken a significant hit. Now the World Cup-winning maestro has finally decided to take action following Chelsea's humiliating 5-0 defeat at Arsenal on Tuesday night.
It's estimated that Fernandez could recover within the space of three weeks, though he would then need to rebuild his fitness levels. Chelsea are, however, optimistic that he will return a better player once he has finally put the issue to bed.
The Blues play their final match of the Premier League season on May 19 when they host Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge. Mauricio Pochettino recently jumped to the defence of the £106.8million signing, stating he will reach a different level next season due to the discomfort he has been experiencing in months gone by.
“Declan Rice was playing for West Ham, an English guy who knows the Premier League, knows the language,” said Pochettino. “For Enzo, after the World Cup to arrive here, in a team that was inconsistent, difficult to get positive results, always it was really difficult.
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“In summer he was involved in too many games and he arrived late in pre-season, hasn’t had a holiday in the last two years. Too many negative things happened. [It was] difficult for him to adapt, his family. It’s not easy to adapt and perform so quickly.”
Fernandez, 23, admitted earlier this month that he hasn't been able to recapture the kind of form which prompted Chelsea to break the English transfer record to sign him from Benfica in January 2023. "I'm trying to get there, to the version of me that you saw at the World Cup," the former River Plate star told Chelsea's website.
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Mauricio Pochettino has faith in Enzo Fernandez (JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)"I want to feel like that Enzo, that was playing at the World Cup. I want to get back there. I feel good, getting better each day, but I still don't feel like I'm at 100 per cent.
"I'm still adapting and still don’t feel entirely myself, but I'm trying to get there as quickly as possible and working hard every day in order to do so."