How Enzo Fernandez might fit in at Chelsea this season – Talk Chelsea

Enzo Fernandez joined Marc Cucurella, Cole Palmer, and Conor Gallagher as another Chelsea player to reach a major final this summer as he helped Argentina beat Canada 2-0 on Tuesday night to get to the Copa America final.

Interestingly, Enzo played in what the local media called a 5 position, which is what we call the 6 position. He basically played as a single pivot, which allowed Alex Mac Allister to free roam. Enzo was the holding midfielder, and he played well.

Stats vs Canada:

• 56/60 passes

• 1 assist

• 4/5 ground duels won

• 1/1 aerial duel won

• 1 clearance

• 1 interception

• 3 tackles

• 0 fouls

Incidentally, it was also in this position where he helped Argentina win the last World Cup.

At Chelsea, he has played everywhere, and managers have not been able to work out his best position.

Mauricio Pochettino used to play him far too advanced, often in the left half space as mostly a 10 or an advanced 8. It didn’t work.

I often said that we need to see Enzo play deeper to get the best out of him, and the above all backs that up.

I don’t actually see him as a single pivot though, I think he is vulnerable in the defensive side of his game to play there, but it could work against teams who sit back and don’t offer much threat, for sure.

But Enzo for me is best in a double pivot alongside a more defensively aware player. He needs to operate and pass from deep to get the best out of his incredible vision and passing ability.

The question is though, will Enzo Maresca even play a double pivot? The Athletic have reported he is likely to play in a 4-3-3 formation, which would see Romeo Lavia as the deepest midfielder, and last season we often saw Moises Caicedo as the deepest midfielder. So where does Enzo fit in there? Once again, this would see him as an advanced 8, and the concern is whether that would bring the best out of him?

I absolutely think he can be good as a 8, but it would have to be in a box-to-box role and not in a mainly attacking role. So you’d need balance of a deep midfielder, a box-to-box 8, and then an attacking 8.

Using Lavia, Caicedo, and Fernandez in those options doesn’t really give you that.

As I keep saying though, it will be very interesting to see how Maresca lines up and uses them all. Rather him than me. I can’t wait to see our first lineup in a couple of weeks time!