Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel has heaped praise on current Blues manager Enzo Maresca for the revival of Enzo Fernandez’s form, crediting the Italian tactician for giving the Argentine midfielder the platform to truly express himself on the pitch.

Fernandez, who arrived at Stamford Bridge in January 2023 with high expectations following his World Cup heroics, had struggled to fully impose himself under previous managers. But under Maresca’s guidance, the 24-year-old has become one of Chelsea’s most influential figures — and Mikel believes that’s down to smart management.

“Credit to the manager as well. He’s found the way to get Enzo to be himself,” Mikel said. “Some players, you don’t restrict them. You don’t say, ‘Oh, you have to be here, you have to stay in this position and don’t move’.”

No longer shackled by rigid positional play, the Argentine is now dictating games, creating chances, and showing the leadership qualities many hoped he’d bring to the squad.

“Fernandez needs freedom, just a bit like Cole Palmer,” Mikel explained. “He needs the freedom to move around, to get into the box, to create chances.”

Indeed, Fernandez’s performances have gone up several levels since being given more licence to roam and impact the game in the final third. His confidence is evident, and he’s now playing with the kind of authority that made Chelsea invest so heavily in him.