Enzo Fernandez sends four-word message after furious Christopher Nkunku Chelsea incident

Enzo Fernandez has issued a four-word message after he was involved in a furious incident with Christopher Nkunku during Chelsea's goalless draw at Brentford on Sunday.

Enzo Maresca's side were denied the chance to move to within two points of third-place Nottingham Forest and cement their spot in the top four after they were held at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Although Maresca was pleased with his side's performance, it was a frustrating afternoon for the Blues as they failed to break down a resolute Brentford outfit and claim maximum points.

During the match, there was one moment that summed up Chelsea's day. It came in the 15th minute when Fernandez shouted at Nkunku for not dropping deep and being slow to receive his pass.

Nkunku has often been accused of being lazy out of possession and the fact he was not pressing right in the opposition's face against Brentford hurt Chelsea. Some fans have turned on the ex-RB Leipzig man.

Fernandez was visibly frustrated with Nkunku, who was hauled off at half-time for Nicolas Jackson following a disappointing first-half performance. During his time on the pitch, he had just one shot.

After the match, Fernandez took to social media to deliver his reaction. In an Instagram story, the 23-year-old wrote: "We keep pushing forward," alongside a flexed bicep emoji and blue love heart emoji.

Meanwhile, Maresca, despite taking him off at half-time, appeared to defend Nkunku in his post-match press conference, and insisted that he doesn't think his below-par showing was down to laziness.

"No, I think it's just a game," Maresca replied when asked if Nkunku's display was down to a lack of effort. "I don't think it's a lack of effort because at the end I can see Christo every day and he's working well. Sometimes probably he wants to give more during a game and he struggles a little bit, but for sure I don't think it's a lack of effort."

Overall, the point for Chelsea keeps them in fourth, four points behind third-place Forest and one ahead of Manchester City in fifth in the race for Champions League qualification.

Offering his reflection on his side's performance against Brentford, Maresca said: "I think overall we played a good game. We prepared the game in the way the game was, in terms of starting one way and finishing the other way.

"We played Thursday night, demanding game, 24 hours less than them. Tricky stadium, tricky game. Sunny day, the pitch was dry. They tried to kill the tempo of the game, so for me it was a complete game.

"But overall, as I said, I think we did enough to win the game. We shot more than 20 times and probably the only thing we missed has been the goal, but overall happy with the performance."

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