Fernandez Thriving at Chelsea after Getting to Grips with Maresca’s Positional Demands

Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Brentford - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - December 15, 2024 Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez applauds fans after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Brentford - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - December 15, 2024 Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez applauds fans after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)
TT

Fernandez Thriving at Chelsea after Getting to Grips with Maresca’s Positional Demands

Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Brentford - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - December 15, 2024 Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez applauds fans after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Brentford - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - December 15, 2024 Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez applauds fans after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez struggled to live up to his hefty price tag following his arrival at the club in January last year but the Argentine says his recent upturn in form is down to developing a good understanding with coach Enzo Maresca.

Fernandez, who cost Chelsea 106 million pounds ($132 million), started six of their first seven league matches this season but failed to impress and was dropped to the bench in place of Romeo Lavia.

However, since his return to the side last month Fernandez has looked revitalized, bagging three goals and four assists in seven Premier League games and helping Chelsea climb to second.

"I learned the position in which I had to play, over time I got the idea of what the coach wanted," Fernandez told ESPN in an interview published on Monday.

"He (Maresca) explained to me what he wanted and I was getting the concept, reading the games. There is still a long way to go.

"On a personal level I have been feeling very good. The team has shown a very strong character, always working and with humility and showing that great things can be achieved. There is still a long way to go."

Chelsea next host London rivals Fulham on Thursday before travelling to face Ipswich Town on Dec. 30.



Kyrgios Is Back in Tournament Action for 1st Time in 18 Months at Brisbane International

Australia's Nick Kyrgios attends a training session before the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on December 28, 2024. (AFP)
Australia's Nick Kyrgios attends a training session before the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on December 28, 2024. (AFP)
TT

Kyrgios Is Back in Tournament Action for 1st Time in 18 Months at Brisbane International

Australia's Nick Kyrgios attends a training session before the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on December 28, 2024. (AFP)
Australia's Nick Kyrgios attends a training session before the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on December 28, 2024. (AFP)

Nick Kyrgios will make his return to tournament tennis at the Brisbane International when he takes on 21-year-old Giovanni Perricard of France.

It will be the first tour-level appearance by Kyrgios since the Stuttgart Open in June 2023. The 29-year-old Kyrgios has been mostly sidelined with career-threatening wrist and knee injuries since the 2022 US Open quarterfinals.

Kyrgios is also entered in the Australian Open beginning Jan. 12. It would be his first Grand Slam singles tournament in more than two years.

Kyrgios, who won the Brisbane International in 2018, will partner Novak Djokovic in doubles in Brisbane. Djokovic beat Kyrgios in the 2022 Wimbledon singles final.

Djokovic is the No. 1-seeded player at the Brisbane International and will play Australia’s Rinky Hijikata in the opening round following the singles draw held Saturday.

Kyrgios and Djokovic are in the top half of the singles draw and are not slated to play each other until the semifinals should they both win through.