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Enzo Fernandez is in a race against time to be fit for Chelsea’s Champions League group phase game against Ajax on Wednesday. The midfielder left international duty early last week after suffering what the Argentinian FA described as inflammation in his knee, and he did not make Chelsea’s 3-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday. But speaking on Tuesday afternoon, manager Enzo Maresca said: “Enzo took part in the session yesterday. We have one more session this afternoon. “We will see what we decide with him tomorrow. But we said before [that] it was not something we have to be worried about. It was just to try to protect Enzo.” In attack, striker Joao Pedro is suspended after he was sent off for a second bookable offence in the Blues’ last Champions League game, a home 1-0 win over Benfica three weeks ago. In his absence, Marecsa may look to bring in Marc Guiu, who was recalled from a loan spell with Sunderland earlier this season and impressed off the bench against Forest as he stretched the hosts’ defence. Maresca started Romeo Lavia at Forest and then replaced him with Moises Caicedo at half-time, explaining that neither was fit to play the full match, so he was managing their minutes. There is a decision to be made in central midfield, where Andrey Santos or nominal right-back Malo Gusto, who impressed in midfield in the win against Liverpool before the international break, could feature in place of or alongside Caicedo and Lavia. Gusto is likely to play in some capacity, given he is suspended for the Premier League game against Sunderland this weekend, after his sending off against Forest. Chelsea predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos; Neto, Estevao, Gittens; Guiu Doubt: Fernandez Injured: Palmer, Colwill, Badiashile, Delap, Essugo Suspended: Joao Pedro Time and date: 8pm BST on Wednesday, September 22, 2025 Venue: Stamford Bridge TV Channel: TNT Sports