Enzo Fernández he had gotten used to winning in the early part of the season. Not only with the Argentine national team, with which he was world champion Qatarbut also with Benficawho up until his departure had won 29 of the 36 games he played.

Since arriving at Chelsea, the midfielder has not been able to celebrate even once. This Saturday, the London team lost 1-0 at home against southampton (Wilfredo Caballero and Carlos Alcaraz were on the bench and did not enter) in a duel corresponding to the 24th round of the Premier League and moved away from the positions that qualify for the next season of European competitions.

English is almost unanimously considered the best league on the planet. If so, it’s definitely not due to performances like these two teams offer, especially in a shameful first time which might have been reason enough for the 40,152 volunteers who packed the stands at Stamford Bridge to demand a refund of the money they had paid for their tickets.

Slow, predictable and crisp football (referee David Coote sanctioned 25 offenses in 45 minutes) peppered that horrific opening chapter. Responsibility corresponded, to a greater extent, to Chelsea, although not by name and position. The team led by Graham Potterwho left a good impression on Wednesday despite the defeat suffered Borussia Dortmund in Germany for the round of 16 first leg of Champions League, stepped back this Saturday. Another disappointment for a club that spent €356m on reinforcements in January and €680m since American Todd Boehly took office just over six months ago.

Much less could be sued southamptonlast team in the Premier League who this season he had won just four gameshad lost 15 (more than all the other 19 participants), had conceded 40 goals and the new coach, the Spaniard Rubén Sellés, to replace the Welshman Nathan Jones, who took over just three months earlier, after the Austrian was sacked Ralph Hasenhüttlthe DT who started the season on the bench of Saints.

As the clock struck 45 minutes and some fans yawned and prepared to stock up for half-time, a splendid free-kick from James Ward-Prowse broke the deadlock. Neither Kepa Arrizabalaga’s escape nor the leap of the five men forming the barrier prevented the visiting captain’s shot from shaking the net and drowsy.

The handicap and income of raheem pound they spurred on Chelsea, who showed an improved version in a second half played almost entirely in away territory. This change was also noticed in Enzo Fernández’s game. The former River and Defensa y Justicia footballer, who in the first half had been very late, inaccurate and more committed to giving and receiving shots than judiciously distributing the ball, got more involved in his team’s circuits, is advanced 10 meters on the field and even entered the opponent’s zone, as he did so many times with the team at the World Cup.

Regardless, Chelsea are still a long way from being a cutting-edge team. Deserved to aim for a draw but never managed to break bottom team strength in the Premier League, who scored a big win at Stamford Bridge. Finally, the Blues they lost their captain, Spanish César Azpilicueta, who startled everyone when he received a kick in the face from Frenchman Sékou Mara which left him lying on the grass and immobile for 10 minutes before being transferred on a stretcher and with oxygen .

Defeat, that he extended his losing streak to five winless appearances, left the London club in 10th place in the Premier League with 31 points, four behind seventh position which delivers a ticket to the next Conference League (a very modest prize for a multi-million pound club). These days the only attractive goal (albeit chimerical, for what he showed on the pitch) is the Champions League. For this he must reverse the series with Borussia Dortmund in the rematch that will be played on March 7 in English territory.