Fernandez wasn’t the only injury concern on the evening as Moises Caicedo was spotted limping at one stage. Maresca said of the Ecuadorian: “He was OK, just a kick in the first half in his knee. But he finished the game and I asked him after the game and he was ok. Pedro Neto and Fernandez did ask for a change, Pedro for the groin problem and Enzo for the knee, so we will have to see how they are.”
The timing of injury news comes as clubs head into another international break, giving Fernandez time to recover and rest his injured knee, but there’s a packed schedule facing the Blues when domestic football returns. The Blues have an away game against Burnley on November 22 before the massive home Champions League clash with Barcelona on November 25 and a London derby with title-race frontrunners Arsenal at Stamford Bridge concludes the month. The December festive period is packed with league matches including Leeds United and Everton, plus a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie against Cardiff City.