Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has received messages from stars of Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur after undergoing surgery.
Chelsea’s ludicrous injury crisis got even worse this past week when it was revealed Enzo Fernandez would have to undergo surgery to fix a groin injury.
The combative midfielder had been playing through pain with the issue but the discomfort had grown too great and the decision was made for him to go under the knife.
It’s another massive blow for Mauricio Pochettino, who will be without 12 first-team players for Saturday’s trip to Aston Villa.
Midfield has been hit particularly hard this season with fellow defensive midfielders Romeo Lavia and Lesley Ugochukwu. also sidelined.
As a result, the manager will have little option but to start Conor Gallagher and the out-of-form Moises Caicedo at Villa Park.
Enzo Fernandez provides injury update and gets good-will messages
Fernandez took to Instagram following his successful surgery to explain why he had to go forward with the procedure.
In a lengthy message, he wrote: “I wanted to let you know that my operation was successful, everything went well, thank God.
“I needed to have this surgery, since I had been experiencing pain for approximately 6 months.
“It was something I could avoid while constantly treating myself with injections and medications.
“But a few weeks ago the pain began to become more and more intense, without any of this having an effect, and it was worse since I trained and played with discomfort, but I did not want to stop being in the games I had.
“Every time I had to play with the Chelsea shirt, like that of the National Team, I always tried to give my best despite all this but I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Thank you for the messages, the encouragement and your usual expressions of affection.
“Greetings to everyone, I promise you that I will come back stronger than ever. Take care. EJF.”
The 23-year-old’s replies were flooded with well-wishers, including Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez and Tottenham centre-back Christian Romero.
Fernandez’s Argentina teammates took the time to reply with emojis. Romero sent three love hearts while Alvarez sent a bicep and a love heart.
Mauricio Pochettino update on Enzo Fernandez
Speaking in his press conference ahead of Saturday’s game with Aston Villa, Pochettino explained Fernandez probably could have played for the rest of the season but he would be far from his best.
He said when asked if Fernandez could have continued: “Yeah, but at the moment he feels the pain and he feels the limitations because of the problem.
“The most important thing is to fix the problem for him. If he does not feel well, he cannot perform because of the situation, it’s not good for him, the team or the club.”
Fernandez has joined Christopher Nkunku, Reece James, Ben Chilwell, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Raheem Sterling, Robert Sanchez, Malo Gusto, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lavia and Ugochukwu on the club’s lengthy casualty list.
However, Cole Palmer is at least set to return on Saturday after missing the defeat to Arsenal through illness.
