Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Wolves at Stamford Bridge should have been all smiles, but the evening ended with some worry. Star midfielder Enzo Fernández, who was named Player of the Match, revealed after the match that he was playing through a painful knee injury and will now sit out Argentina’s upcoming friendly against Angola.
Fernández shines before the setback
The first half against Wolves was frustrating for Chelsea as the visitors defended deep and made life difficult. But Fernández’s quality started to shine through after the break. The Argentine was in control in midfield, using his passing range and creativity to create spaces. His calm control also helped others shine. Malo Gusto finally scored his first goal for Chelsea, while João Pedro and Pedro Neto added two more to seal a convincing victory.
It was a solid team performance that pushed Chelsea into second place in the Premier League, but concerns soon followed when Fernández asked to be substituted in the second half.
The injury problem
After the match, Fernández admitted that he suffered from bone edema (a form of swelling in the knee bone), which left him in ‘a lot of pain’. He confirmed he will miss Argentina’s international matches to focus on recovery.
The 24-year-old explained that the decision was made jointly with Chelsea and Argentina’s medical staff:
“We agreed that I should take these two weeks of rest, because the most important part of the season is still to come.”
It is not the first time that the midfielder has suffered from knee problems. In October he withdrew from the Argentina squad due to synovitis, a swelling of the knee membrane.
Chelsea’s upcoming challenges
The timing of the injury coincides with the international break, giving Fernández a short recovery period before starting a busy run of matches. Chelsea play Burnley on November 22, followed by a big Champions League clash with Barcelona on November 25, and then a London derby with Arsenal at the end of the month. December brings even more challenges, including league matches and a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Cardiff City.
While fans will miss Fernández in Argentine colors this month, taking time off seems like the right move. Chelsea will be hoping their midfield maestro returns fully fit as now that he is at his best, the Blues look like serious contenders again.
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