Frank Lampard has showered Enzo Fernandez with the utmost praise ahead of Chelsea's clash against Brentford. The 22-year-old will be hoping he can continue his excellent form on Wednesday night when the Blues welcome Thomas Frank's side to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea managed to wrap up a deal with Benfica for the midfielder on January deadline day, agreeing to pay the Portuguese giants £106.7million in six instalments. Fernandez signed an eight-and-a-half-year contract, becoming the most expensive player in the west London club's history.
Despite the club's disappointing results lately, the Argentina international has settled in well to life in the Premier League. Speaking to the press ahead of Chelsea's meeting with Brentford, Lampard heaped great praise on Fernandez.
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"I think he's a fantastic talent. I think for a young player to have achieved what he has achieved in this footballing year has been amazing," he said.
"To be part of a World Cup-winning team, to earn himself a move to the Premier League and a club like Chelsea. I agree maybe it's a difficult moment to come to the club.
"He's been at the club a few months and it's been a difficult time, which has been a challenge for him. It's a challenge that will make him better because everybody will put a lot of eyes on his performance, give him a lot of responsibility.
"The reality, at his age coming here, he also needs support and help and those things. Those things can take time, speaking the language for instance.
"I think he's a fantastic talent and he is the future of Chelsea, one of, central to a lot of it. We must also give him that time to settle because will have happened to him very quickly. I really like Enzo, I've been very impressed."
Lampard was also quizzed on the personal challenges which he has faced since returning to Chelsea. The Blues caretaker boss said: "The schedule is always going to be challenging, I knew that coming in.
"That was a challenge in trying to work the players, seeing them first hand, you can't make too many pre-judgements. Of course the games came thick and fast and we had a lot of fitness to think about in those games and rotation.
"That period is gone, we don't have a crazy period like that until the last week of the season now. It gives us a bit more time to work in between. Those have been the challenges. I think there are always a lot of challenges.
"I came in midseason at Everton and I found a lot of challenges, we probably had more time to work until the end of the season so we could get more consistency in work.
"This is different. Football is about challenges and you have to tackle them head-on. There are challenges and we have to keep on going."
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