Enzo Fernandez's goal celebration against Aston Villa was a response to the abuse he and his Chelsea team-mates have received this season, according to Mauricio Pochettino.
The World Cup winner, and many of the Blues squad, have underperformed this season and this week Fernandez's agent had to deny reports his client was looking for a way out just a year after his £106million arrival.
But Fernandez produced a stunning display on Wednesday night as Chelsea brushed Aston Villa aside to reach the FA Cup fifth round. He controlled the midfield and then capped off the performance with a free kick, after which he took off his shirt and held it up to the travelling supporters, pointing to his name and then the pitch.
Pochettino said after the game that Fernandez’s celebration was a reaction to the abuse he has received on social media. The Chelsea manager told reporters: "Look, today we are living in an era where it is easy to abuse, you know? To the people, to the public people. It’s normal that the players are human, not robots, and it’s so easy today to abuse.
I want to be here because I really believe in the project, I really believe in the player.
"I think we need to understand that we are playing football, you know? Of course this type of situation makes us angry, situations that are completely unfair. Today, Enzo showed why he’s here and he showed his quality.
"But we didn’t have any doubts about him, or about [Moises] Caicedo or about different players, young players that arrived here with expectation to win titles and to score with every single touch!’
He continued: "He is a world champion player. Look, when he signed one year ago, he arrived after nearly two years with no holidays, no rest, with the pressure, still young, different environment, different language, different culture, a team that needs time to build. All of these types of circumstance, you need time.
"I don’t want to annoy the people. For me, it’s not an excuse. I want to be here because I really believe in the project, I really believe in the player. But please, stop to create expectation that does match to the reality and help the players that are here to try and build something.
"Of course, if that happens again, we will be there to help. It does not surprise me because Enzo has the quality, not only to score this type of goal, but to perform in the way today he performed."
Before the game, Fernandez's agent, Uriel Perez, dismissed reports Fernandez regretted his move to Chelsea and signing a contract which runs until 2031.
"The player has no intention of leaving," Perez told Spanish newspaper AS. "The Chelsea hierarchy were very clear with this project. It’s a plan that was always going to be difficult at the beginning because new and young players were going to arrive.
"But when the pieces of the team all fit together, Chelsea are going to move forward. Enzo’s desire is to be on the team and win trophies. We have not met with any clubs or even tried to talk to any clubs, that’s not true.
"We know what the player’s desire is. Obviously he would like Chelsea to be in a better position [in the league] but that will be achieved with hard work."
