Even though Enzo Fernandez is only 24 years old, he is already something of a veteran in the current Chelsea FC squad.
It therefore came as no surprise that when Reece James pulled up during the warm-up and was unable to feature in the 2-1 victory over Palmeiras in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ quarter-finals, the captain’s armband went to the Argentinian.
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This is a familiar scenario for Enzo Maresca’s fledgling squad. His younger namesake cannot help but smile at the irony of being seen as a senior figure in the dressing room, even with his prime years ahead of him.
“We’re delighted with the team’s development and every player that’s come in under Enzo [Maresca],” the midfielder told FIFA. “We’ve been on an upward trajectory since we started to work with him.
“Enzo has brought structure and order to our team. We’ve been improving day in, day out, and I think today proved how far we’ve come.”
The youth-driven triumph for Chelsea over the Brazilians at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia kept the Blues in contention to lift the coveted trophy stateside. There were also glimpses of the team’s potential to spark excitement among supporters.
Having signed for the club earlier in the week and taken part in just two training sessions, Joao Pedro was thrown in at the deep end by Maresca to replace Liam Delap in the second half. His impact was immediately visible as he unsettled Abel Ferreira’s defence.
“I already knew a deal might be on the cards,” the 23-year-old told FIFA. “I was aware of interest from Chelsea, so I kept myself fit, but, of course, it’s one thing to work out at the gym or with a fitness coach and another to train with other players.
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“I’m not at 100% yet, but I feel I can help the team, as I’ve done today.”
Estevao also made his mark in Philadelphia in special circumstances, as the spotlight shone even more brightly when the 18-year-old served up a sumptuous strike in the early part of the second half to draw the Verdão level.
The winger ultimately bade farewell to the club “heartbroken”, while also whetting Chelsea’s appetite for what lies ahead.
“We could see his potential out there,” explained Fernandez. “He showcased that in the match, but he’s been doing so for Palmeiras for a long time now.
“The new players who come in are always willing to knuckle down and I think Enzo has put those foundations in place with his clarity.”
Joao Pedro echoed the sentiment, speaking spontaneously about the Argentinian midfielder:
“Most players in this Chelsea squad are young, but I believe we’re going to click over time because there’s so much talent here,” the Brazilian forward said. “Enzo, for example, has already won major honours in his career at such a young age. I still think there’s so much more to come from this Chelsea team.”
