Chelsea face uncertainty over four crucial players ahead of their Premier League encounter with Brentford, but manager Enzo Maresca has received a major boost with the return of Enzo Fernandez. The Argentine midfielder has been in fine form, scoring in Chelsea’s last two matches, giving the Blues added confidence heading into the weekend.
International fixtures have added complications for Chelsea’s preparations. Just 68 hours separate Ecuador’s match against Argentina and Chelsea’s game with Brentford on Saturday evening. Ecuador secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Argentina early Wednesday morning (UK time), with Enner Valencia scoring the decisive goal.
Moises Caicedo started for Ecuador but was shown a second yellow card in the second half, leading to his dismissal. Ironically, Enzo Fernandez missed Argentina’s squad due to suspension, keeping him available for Chelsea.
The long journey from Guayaquil, Ecuador, to London—over 14 hours—means Caicedo could return to training at Chelsea’s Cobham base on Thursday, leaving him just over 48 hours to prepare for the Brentford clash, which kicks off at 8 pm BST on Saturday.