Enzo Fernandez believes Chelsea are finally “on the right path” under Graham Potter.
Blues boss Potter secured back-to-back wins for the first time since October to change the mood around Stamford Bridge. The pressure has eased on Potter and finally Chelsea can look forward with some hope and optimism with his side now safely into the Champions League quarter finals.
Chelsea will discover their next opponents in the Champions League draw on March 17 having beaten Borussia Dortmund, four days after also seeing off Leeds at Stamford Bridge. These games were billed as defining games for Potter and Fernandez says they go a long way to showing that the players are behind the manager and will improve.
Fernandez, Chelsea’s record £106million singing, said: “We’re going to be staying on this path and we keep hope things carry on improving. It was a great plan from our coaches for the game.
“We had trust that the team could do it. We had more people running in behind and many people working at the back. We just had to do our jobs and follow that game plan.”
It has been a difficult start to Fernandez’s Chelsea career amid so much focus on the manager but the owners’ admirable faith in Potter was rewarded in the Champions League. The Chelsea fans also stayed with the team and their support was vital, according to Fernandez.
He said: “When we play at home, it helps the confidence of the group. We played really well and we believe in the path that we are working on.
“I am really happy here and I am getting to know my teammates better. I am feeling more confident. We all are after our second win. We hope that we can be the champions again.”
Meanwhile, Fernandez talked about the “special moment” when he gave a young fan his shirt on the pitch after the game.
The Chelsea supporter ran onto the pitch, raced up to Fernandez and two stewards immediately tried to intervene but the Argentina World Cup winner took off his shirt for the fan.
Fernandez added: “It touched my heart when the boy ran out to come and see me. He came and asked for my shirt. It was such a special moment because he wanted to see me and he gave me a quick hug.
“It made me feel even more connected with the fans. I love getting to know the fans and the trust that they have in me is incredible. I feel at home.”
