ENZO Maresca said it was a “technical decision” to take off captain Enzo Fernandez in Chelsea’s 8-0 Europa Conference League win over FC Noah at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.
The Blues scored six goals in the first half with Tosin Adarabioyo heading in Fernandez’s corner on twelve minutes.
Less than a minute later, Marc Guiu scored the second before Axel Disasi headed home another corner and Fernandez set up Joao Felix, giving the Argentina midfielder three assists in nine minutes.
Mykhailo Mudryk and Felix scored again before the break and Christopher Nkunku got a second-half brace.
Fernandez, who has lost his place in Maresca’s first-choice team recently, was replaced with Cesare Casadei at half-time.
“He’s okay,” Maresca said. “It was just a technical decision. No more than that, he is okay.”
Maresca made eleven changes to the side that started in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford last Sunday.
One of those who came in was eighteen-year-old winger Tyrique George for his full debut.
Maresca only told George he was starting a couple of hours before kick-off.
“I think he was very good,” Maresca said. “I said before the game, probably with young players, sometimes it is better to tell them the day before so they can prepare but with some of them, tell them at the end so they don’t get nervous.
“The plan with Tyrique, we knew already he was going to start but I told him just two hours before the game. I think he was very good. Also, Sam Rak-Sakyi was very good. I’m very happy for Marc Guiu, in the end he scored. He hasn’t got many minutes with us this season but he is working hard. They are all eighteen, eighteen, nineteen [years old] – it’s important.”
Maresca added: ”We consider Misha [Mudryk], all of them for every game to take the best XI we think. The important thing is Misha continues to improve like tonight. He scored a fantastic goal, he had some good moments. The important thing is he continues to improve.”
