Chelsea secured a 2-0 win over Fulham in the West London derby, despite a dramatic first half that saw Enzo Fernandez appear to be at odds with his manager.
The Argentine midfielder was seen yelling angrily towards the Chelsea bench after his corner kick led to Joao Pedro’s header, which gave Chelsea the lead just nine minutes into injury time.
At the half-time whistle, Fernandez stormed down the tunnel, seemingly trying to hand his captain’s armband to Chelsea fitness coach Marcos Alvarez.
The incident suggested that Fernandez was unhappy with his performance and potentially facing a substitution.
However, Enzo Maresca decided not to make the change, and Fernandez went on to score the penalty that sealed Chelsea’s win in the 56th minute.
The win was not without its costs, as Chelsea’s Liam Delap suffered a hamstring injury during the match.
Delap’s absence could leave Chelsea scrambling for striker options, with Maresca admitting that the situation “does not look good” for the 22-year-old Englishman.
With Delap out, Chelsea may need to consider signing a new striker before the transfer window closes.
The match was marked by controversy, particularly around the VAR decision to disallow Josh King’s goal due to a perceived foul by Rodrigo Muniz on Trevoh Chalobah.
Meanwhile, young talents shone on both sides, including Estevao Willian, who brought excitement to the game with his strength and skills.
Other wonderkids, such as Rio Ngumoha and Max Dowman, have also made an impact in the Premier League this season.
The match highlighted the impact of Chelsea’s recent signing, Joao Pedro, who scored the opening goal and has now scored five goals in five starts for the Blues.
Pedro’s impressive form has given Chelsea a much-needed boost, and his partnership with Enzo Fernandez looks set to be a key factor in Chelsea’s success this season.
With Liam Delap’s injury, Chelsea’s striker options are limited. Joao Pedro has been impressive, but the team lacks depth in the position.
Enzo Maresca acknowledged that the team might need to sign a new striker, saying “we will see” when asked about the world of Chelsea’s striker options.
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