EPL: Neville criticizes Fernandez after 2-0 defeat to Man City

Chelsea began the season with a 2-0 loss to Manchester City at Stamford Bridge, as goals from Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic handed the Blues an opening day defeat.

With Reece James unavailable, Enzo Fernandez took on the captaincy for the match against City but struggled to make an impact.

Gary Neville, while commentating for Sky Sports, was critical of the 23-year-old, remarking, “Enzo Fernandez often presses when he has no chance of winning the ball.”

“He then throws up his arms to his team-mates as if to say ‘where were you?’. He is not kidding anyone.

“I thought Chelsea would take more a few more risks on the ball. But they have been quite basic. The Chelsea midfield are being run ragged.

“I thought Chelsea would take more a few more risks on the ball. But they have been quite basic. The Chelsea midfield are being run ragged.”

Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin was also critical of Enzo Fernandez performance against City, and claimed Chelsea missed the presence of Conor Gallagher.

“Enzo has been very, very quiet in that number 10 position,” Nevin said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“You have to be central to everything in that position. If you’re Conor Gallagher you’d be thinking you can do better than that.