Enzo Maresca has revealed that Enzo Fernandez is an early injury doubt for Chelsea’s Champions League game against Ajax on Wednesday.

Fernandez withdrew from international duty with Argentina last weekend due to a knee injury and was unable to take part in training after returning to Chelsea this week.

The 24-year-old was then left out of the matchday squad for Chelsea’s 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

‘Enzo had small problem,’ Maresca said after Chelsea’s victory.

‘A small problem that at the moment we are not able to say if he can be available for Ajax or not.’

Maresca, meanwhile, made three substitutes at half time after a poor first-half display against Forest.

Romeo Lavia, Alejandro Garnacho and Andrey Santos were all replaced with Moises Caicedo, Jamie Gittens and Marc Guiu brought on.

Josh Acheampong, Pedro Neto and Reece James all found the net in the second half to secure Chelsea’s 3-0 win.

‘I always try to do my best. Sometimes I’m wrong, sometimes I’m right. But in this moment, it’s more about protecting players. We already knew that Romeo [Lavia] was not going to play 90 minutes,’ Maresca said when asked about his three substitutions.

‘Romeo’s plan was 45 minutes. Moi [Caicedo] cannot play 90 minutes, so the decision was to start with Moi or start with Romeo. And Romeo needs confidence, he needs a boost, he needs to start the game. So that was the plan. Then Garna [Garnacho] did a fantastic game against Liverpool. So it was good to give him again the chance.

‘Jamie [Gittens] came on, he was okay. And I think Marc Guiu was good. But also we planned the game expecting them back four, not back five. I think back four with Joao Pedro at No.9 is better. With back five, Joao Pedro at No.9 is not… if you remember, West Ham away, back five, we played Liam Delap and Joao Pedro against a back five. So we expected them back four, but they were back five. And then after half-time, we changed.’

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Enzo Maresca had a special message for Isco after Chelsea’s 4-1 win against Real Betis in the Conference League final on Wednesday night.

Chelsea went behind early in Wroclaw as Isco’s excellent pass found Abde Ezzalzouli, who fired past Filip Jorgensen to put Betis in front in the ninth minute.

Maresca’s side stepped in the second half and Cole Palmer’s superb ball into Betis’ box found Enzo Fernandez, who headed in the equaliser.

Palmer was the provider once again to help Chelsea take the lead as his neat turn and cross from the right picked out Nicolas Jackson, who scored with another header from close range.

Jason Sancho, on as a second half substitute, put the tie beyond doubt with a brilliant finish to extend Chelsea’s advantage.

Moises Caicedo then wrapped up Chelsea’s 4-1 win with another neat strike on the edge of Betis’ penalty area.

The win is a historic one for Chelsea as they have become the first club to win the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

Speaking after his side’s win, Maresca revealed that he sought out Isco to praise the former Real Madrid midfielder for his performance in the final.

‘I told Isco at the end that he has a quality that makes the difference,’ Maresca told Movistar.

Chelsea midfielder Fernandez also revealed paid tribute to Isco after speaking with the 33-year-old during the post-match medal ceremony.

‘He showed all his qualities today and throughout his career, he has won many things, and I told him to keep going,’ Fernandez said.

Meanwhile, Maresca also revealed that he predicted Chelsea would endure a difficult first half in the Conference League final due to their tough 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest on the final day of the Premier League season last Sunday which secured them a place in next season’s Champions League.

‘I expected it to turn out like that because on Sunday we played until the 100th minute to qualify for the Champions League,’ Maresca said.

‘Betis had played on Friday, I expected them to start strongly, but we adjusted at half time and then I think we were much better.’

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