In the second of our Club World Cup diary entries, Enzo Fernandez reflects upon his goal in our tournament opener, discusses his leadership role within the squad, and outlines why there is more to come ahead of our clash with Flamengo.
That feeling when you score, it never changes. It is happiness and it is pride. You know you have helped your club and your team-mates – and that is the most important thing.
I didn’t start our first game of the FIFA Club World Cup, that was not a problem. You must be ready when the coach needs you. That was in my mind because I always want to give my best. I feel I did that.
My goal against LAFC was my eighth of the season. That is a good number; it’s good in one season and I am thankful to God for this. But for me, this is still just the beginning. I’m always going to want more, I always want to do better.
And if I can do that, I will be helping the team. This is always on my mind. It’s why I work hard and try to improve, and with Enzo [Maresca], I am playing further forward, which has helped with my statistics. Next season, though, I want to score more goals and give more assists.
This responsibility is something I enjoy. Of course, I have captained the team many times now and it's always an honour. I take great pride in representing Chelsea in this way and knowing I have the trust of the head coach, my team-mates, and the supporters.
Yet I try not to let it change how I perform on the pitch. For me, I must have the same mindset and keep the same attitude: work hard, give my very best, be brave, and do everything I can to help the team.
Do that and we will hopefully win many more games together.
We've made a good start at the Club World Cup, and on Friday we play against Flamengo in our second group match. It's a Brazilian team, and you know why that is important...
The rivalry between Argentina and Brazil is a great one in football. I've played against Brazilian teams in the past and have always enjoyed the games. They can be special. You play with respect, of course, but you want to win. You have to give everything for this.
This attitude does not change, no matter if it is a Premier League, European, or Club World Cup game. The demands stay the same, because this is what is required at Chelsea.