Enzo Maresca cautioned that a Chelsea star might not be well-suited for the Premier League.

Former Chelsea defender William Gallas has warned Enzo Maresca that Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez might not be a good fit for the Premier League. Fernandez, who joined Chelsea from Benfica in January 2023 for £105 million—a record fee in British football—has shown flashes of his talent but hasn’t consistently met expectations at Stamford Bridge.

With Maresca beginning to establish a settled lineup, Fernandez has fallen behind Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia in the midfield hierarchy, and he hasn’t started a league match since early October. Maresca recently noted that the Caicedo-Lavia partnership offers Chelsea more balance but hinted that Fernandez could still play a significant role as the season progresses.

Gallas, however, believes Chelsea may need to accept that Fernandez isn’t ideally suited for the physical demands of English football. Speaking to Prime Casino, he explained that while Fernandez has quality, the Premier League’s intensity may be too challenging for him. Gallas stated that Fernandez needs to improve his fitness, work harder, and become more consistent to meet the demands of his position, which requires both defensive and attacking contributions. He also pointed out that Fernandez needs to either score goals or provide assists to thrive in a box-to-box role.

Gallas added that it might be difficult for Fernandez to regain a starting role this season. Despite coming off the bench recently against Manchester United, where he missed an opportunity to score, Gallas stressed that Fernandez must make the most of his limited minutes to prove his worth.

Another former player, Graeme Souness, also questioned Fernandez’s potential to meet Chelsea’s expectations, suggesting on the Three Up Front podcast that many of Chelsea’s recent signings, including Fernandez, might not reach the levels the club had hoped.

Although Fernandez’s form has declined, moving him on could be challenging, given his weekly salary of £180,000 and a contract running until 2032. Barcelona and Inter Milan have shown interest, but early reports suggest Fernandez is committed to fighting for his place at Chelsea.