As issues stand, Chelsea will go into considered one of their most difficult, and doubtlessly pivotal, matches of the Premier League season thus far with out considered one of their key gamers.
Enzo Fernandez’s over the worldwide break “crossed a line” in accordance with Liam Rosenior, and the £107m midfielder will sit out Sunday’s go to of after additionally lacking the FA Cup victory towards Port Vale.
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Chelsea’s vice-captain has solely missed one Premier League recreation all season – towards in October with a knee downside – and has began in all however considered one of his 30 appearances.
The 25-year-old has scored eight objectives and registered three assists within the league and, as not too long ago as January, about how he “has established himself as considered one of, if not the, most essential gamers in Chelsea’s assault”.
A number of key metrics illustrate how a lot the Blues depend on his consolation in possession.
Fernandez has made extra passes which have damaged the opposition’s line of defense than any participant within the Premier League this season (41) and has additionally accomplished probably the most profitable lay-offs (73).
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His 36 line-breaking passes into the opposition’s penalty space is a joint-high with Bruno Fernandes, whereas the Portuguese playmaker is the one participant within the division (33) to make greater than the Chelsea man’s 21 by balls.
He’s additionally within the prime six within the Premier League for passes ending within the closing third (595), passes within the opposition half (1,048), and probabilities created together with assists (51).
Ought to there be no reversal of the choice to depart Fernandez out of the match, it could take away a key cog in Chelsea’s creativity each in build-up and within the closing third and go away a big gap for Rosenior to fill, towards a Metropolis group which seems brimming with confidence.
Final weekend’s 7-0 demolition of Port Vale has proven the Blues can create in Fernandez’s absence, however no one is in any doubt that Metropolis will present a completely completely different problem.
All stats supplied by Opta.