Enzo Maresca felt Manchester City’s record buy Enzo Fernandez slotted seamlessly into the side and backed the £125million man to be a crucial influence for the Blues this season.
Fernandez completed his move from Chelsea on deadline day and was initially named on the bench for City’s Premier League game with Coventry City. But an injury to Nico O’Reilly in the warm up prompted Maresca, who managed the Argentina international during their time together at Stamford Bridge, to hand Fernandez a full debut. The City chief was pleased with how the 25-year-old fared as Erling Haaland’s first half header earned City a 1-0 win and extended their perfect top flight start to three wins from three.
“It is much more easy with a player that you already share time together because they know exactly what you want,” said Maresca of City’s record signing. “We know each other very well and I know how good he is and I know that he he is going to help the team win games.”
Fernandez played 75 minutes and showed his composure and class, linking well with Rayan Cherki and causing Coventry problems from his advanced midfield role. And Maresca, who didn’t want to rush Fernandez straight into the side, felt the midfielder acquitted himself well in what were his first minutes since featuring for Chelsea on the opening weekend of the season.
“The reason why Enzo was on the bench was just because he arrived two days ago,” said the City boss. “I know how frustrating it has been for Enzo in the last two or three weeks so the idea was to give him some minutes but in the end he played from the start and was quite good and I am happy with his performance.”
O’Reilly missed the game with a back issue picked up in the warm up but City hope the issue isn’t serious with the Blues in Champions League action against Porto in midweek before travelling to Old Trafford for the Manchester derby next Sunday.
“Nico felt something in his back, doesn’t look something serious but he was not able to play,” said Maresca.
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