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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Palmer is not expected to return for another six weeks.

The midfielder starts among the subs.

Enzo Maresca will serve a touchline ban against Nottingham Forest (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca will serve a one-match touchline ban after his sending-off against Liverpool earlier this month.

The Football Association s…

‘He needs to be out for six more weeks.’

Alan Shearer wasn’t happy about Enzo Maresca’s red card (Photo: BBC)

Alan Shearer was among those to criticise Enzo Maresca’s red card after Chelsea’s epic 2-1 win over Liverpool in the Premier League.

Chelsea cond…

Wayne Rooney discussing Chelsea’s win over Liverpool (Picture: BBC)

Wayne Rooney says Liverpool have a ‘clear problem’ after they suffered a third successive defeat to Chelsea to slip behind new Premier League leaders Ars…

Gary Neville discussing Chelsea’s victory over Liverpool (Picture: Sky Sports)

Gary Neville hailed Moises Caicedo as ‘the best midfielder in the Premier League’ after Chelsea’s victory over Liverpool.

Chelsea infli…

Chelsea host the champions in west London.

Maresca has some big decisions to make this week.

Owen Hargreaves has named the two signings Chelsea need to take the next step and win the Premier League or Champions League.

The Blues finished fourth in the Premier League last season, 15 points behind champions Liverpool.

Enzo Maresca’s side threatened to push Liverpool all the way during an impressive first-half to the season but fell away after Christmas.

Chelsea beat the likes of PSG, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to win the Club World Cup over the summer and also enjoyed a productive transfer window, spending over £300m on new signings.

The Stamford Bridge board hoped the new additions would help Chelsea challenge for the Premier League title this season but that already looks doubtful.

Chelsea have won two, drawn two and lost two of their first six games in the league, slipping seven points behind defending champions and early pacesetters Liverpool.

In the Champions League, the west Londoners have six points after two games, following up an opening defeat to Bayern Munich with a narrow win over Jose Mourinho’s Benfica.

Despite Chelsea’s incredible spending in recent years, Hargreaves is still of the belief that a ‘world-class goalkeeper’ and an ‘experienced centre-back’ is needed for the Blues to win major silverware.

‘If Chelsea want to go and win the Premier League and the Champions League, they need a world-class keeper and an experienced centre-back,’ Hargreaves told TNT Sports.

‘For the centre-back, a player like [PSG and Brazil legend] Marquinhos to help these young players along the way.’

Joe Cole agreed that Chelsea would benefit from strengthening in those two positions but warned that the club’s owners are unlikely to deviate from their current transfer strategy.

‘That’s what everyone wanted,’ said Stamford Bridge hero Cole in response to Hargreaves’ assessment.

‘What the club are trying to do is work and develop young players. That’s all well and good.

‘They’re waiting for Robert Sanchez to come to the level, he did have a good Club World Cup and started the season well before that red card [in the defeat to Manchester United].

‘Chelsea fans need to get their heads around this because the club are going down this route and are going to stick with it.’

A number of pundits have speculated that Chelsea will struggle to compete for the Premier League or Champions League without a new goalkeeper.

Jamie Carragher says it was a big mistake not to sign a replacement for Robert Sanchez over the summer, especially as the club held talks with France goalkeeper Mike Maignan and knew Gianluigi Donnarumma was available.

‘The glaring flaws last season were in goal and at centre-half,’ Carragher wrote in a column for The Telegraph. ‘Despite 12 new arrivals over the summer, those areas remain the Achilles’ heel.

‘Chelsea were linked with AC Milan’s French keeper Mike Maignan, but the message was they were not prepared to pay more than £12m. Why not?

‘Manchester City showed what ambitious clubs do when an obvious issue needs sorting out, signing Gianluigi Donnarumma.

‘Why were Chelsea not part of the conversation for the PSG keeper? He could have been a transformative signing for them.’

After returning to winning ways against Benfica, Chelsea will look to clinch their first Premier League win since August 30 this weekend when Liverpool visit Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool won their first seven games of the season before suffering rare back-to-back defeats to Crystal Palace in the Premier League and Galatasaray in the Champions League.

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Why have Enzo Maresca’s side struggled for consistency?

Jose Mourinho has heaped praise on Chelsea summer signing Estevao Willian, insisting he has ‘great potential’ and is already ‘playing at the highest level’.

Chelsea secured a deal for Brazilian sensation Estevao in the summer of 2024 but agreed to let him stay at boyhood club Palmeiras for one more season.

The Blues saw off competition from several clubs to sign Estevao, who is rated as one of the most promising young players in the world and has been compared with his compatriot Neymar.

Chelsea paid an initial £29m to sign the 18-year-old but the overall fee could rise to just under £50m if various add-ons are met.

Estevao featured for Palmeiras at the Club World Cup over the summer before finally moving to Stamford Bridge in August ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Enzo Maresca has opted to start Estevao in four of Chelsea’s six Premier League games so far this season and the teenager made his Champions League debut as a second-half substitute in Tuesday’s win over Benfica.

‘Estevao is a talent,’ new Benfica boss Mourinho, who suffered a 1-0 defeat on his return to Stamford Bridge, told TNT Sports Brazil.

‘People might have thought he would take time to adapt because of his youth, inexperience and the competition he has at Chelsea.

‘But he arrived, is playing at the highest level and is a player with great potential.’

Estevao’s bright start to life at Stamford Bridge has also attracted praise from Chelsea hero Dennis Wise, who believes he could be the club’s ‘next superstar’.

‘He’s only young, and there’s still a long way to go, but he’s already shown what he’s capable of,’ Wise told Sky Bet.

‘As a Brazilian international, he’s even scored his first goal for his country, which is a huge milestone at such an early stage of his career.

‘He looks every bit like a little superstar in the making. That said, he still has to prove himself on a regular basis.

‘At Chelsea, he’s got competition for his spot, so he’s got to hold that place, and make sure he’s constantly the main man in the team.

‘He’s got fantastic ability – it’s just about consistency, week in, week out. He’s also got to keep ahead of the individuals sitting behind him, waiting to get into the team, because they’ve got a lot of talent too.

‘He’s a great talent and he’ll have a massive impact on the Premier League. We’re all excited, especially because he’s only 18 years old.

‘To be doing so much at such a young age is fantastic – but he’s got to keep it going.’

Chelsea lost their Champions League opener against Bayern Munich but bounced back with a battling win over Benfica.

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Ex-Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher (Picture: CBS Sports)

Jamie Carragher put Peter Schmeichel on the spot during CBS Sports’ Champions League coverage with a question about Chelsea’s Premier League title hopes.

…

Jose Mourinho was back at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea beat Benfica ( Getty)

Enzo Maresca and Jose Mourinho delivered different verdicts on Alejandro Garnacho after Chelsea’s 1-0 win against Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday e…

The Blues have a growing list of injury woes.

Alejandro Garnacho joined Chelsea from Manchester United over the summer (Picture: TNT Sports)

Chelsea winger Alejandro Garnacho says he experienced a ‘bad moment in life’ after being exiled by his former Manchester United mana…

The issues are piling up for Liverpool boss Arne Slot (Picture: Getty)

Arne Slot has confirmed Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson will miss this weekend’s Premier League clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Alisson, one of the best g…

Joe Cole discussing Chelsea’s win over Benfica (Picture: TNT Sports)

Joe Cole heaped praise on Chelsea’s ‘unsung hero’ after the Blues beat Jose Mourinho’s Benfica in the Champions League.

An own goal from Be…

Jose Mourinho pleaded with the Benfica fans to back off (Picture: TNT Sports)

Jose Mourinho personally intervened after Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez had objects thrown at him from Benfica fans at Stamford Bridge.

Fernandez strolled o…

Jose Mourinho admits he would love to have Chelsea winger Pedro Neto at Benfica as he prepares for an emotional return to Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho was appointed as Benfica manager earlier this month and takes the Portuguese side to Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The 62-year-old, who was recently sacked by Turkish giants Fenerbahce, won three Premier League titles across his two spells in charge of Chelsea.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Mourinho said he would ‘always be a Blue’ but insisted he was still determined to lead Benfica to a European win.

‘I will always be a Blue,’ said Mourinho, who has won two and drawn one of his first three games back at Benfica, the club where he began his managerial career in 2000.

‘I am part of their history. They are part of my history. I helped them to become a bigger Chelsea, and they helped me to become a bigger Jose.

‘It will be my Chelsea before the start of the game and after the game but during the game it’s my Benfica and that’s all that matters.

‘When I say I am not a Blue, I am only speaking about the job I have to do tomorrow.’

Mourinho embraced several journalists and Chelsea employees at his press conference on Monday.

As well as managing the Blues, Mourinho had spells at Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Porto, Manchester United, Tottenham and Roma.

‘After 25 years [of coaching] I was expecting to go back to Portugal through the national team, not Benfica,’ Mourinho added.

‘I’m back to Benfica so I don’t have a career project. I don’t try to think what can happen or what cannot happen.

‘The important thing is giving everything. Now I’m in Benfica and very happy. It’s a big responsibility, Benfica is a huge responsibility for different reasons.’

Chelsea winger Neto spoke glowingly of Mourinho ahead of the Champions League clash against Benfica.

Enzo Maresca’s side were beaten by Bayern Munich in their Champions League opener, while Benfica lost 3-2 to Qarabag before Bruno Lage was sacked and replaced by Mourinho.

‘As a Portuguese player it will be a pride to play against a manager like Jose Mourinho,’ said Neto, who completed a £54m move from Wolves in 2024.

‘He gave us an opportunity to go around the world and play in the best clubs and for managers to coach the best clubs. We know what he represents to this club and to Portuguese people.’

Neto also said he would love to work under Mourinho and the legendary manager was asked about his compatriot’s comments.

Asked if he would like Neto at Benfica, Mourinho added: ‘Pedro Neto is one of the best wingers in the world.

‘Roberto [Martinez] at the [Portugal] national team is very privileged because he has not only Pedro Neto but four or five players of that profile.

‘At Benfica we don’t have as many. Of course I would like Pedro Neto but of course he is playing in a different reality, much different to ours, especially financially.

‘What can I say? I can wish him the very best, injury-free career. And of course I thank him for his words as well.’

Chelsea started the season strongly but Saturday’s defeat to Brighton was their third in four games.

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‘Madness.’

The Blues have A LOT of injury worries.

The Blues have picked up just two wins in the Premier League.

Another bad day at the office for the Chelsea boss.