Enzo Maresca has had his fair share of problems since taking over as Chelsea manager this summer, but Enzo Fernandez doesn't appear to be one of them.
Fernandez has been captain in the absence of Reece James and is regarded as one of the Premier League's best midfielders. Chelsea paid £106.8m to sign the Argentine from Benfica in February 2023. However, the Blues' record signing is not in the starting line-up.
In back-to-back Premier League games, Maresca used Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia as holding midfielders. His 4-2-3-1 formation allowed Cole Palmer the freedom to roam, while Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke played higher and wider to stretch opponents.
After seeing the performances of Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, it was clear that Maresca had found the right balance in his squad. The Blues had an expensive midfield but lacked a workman who could challenge and win the ball back.
Caicedo and Lavia are not the most exciting midfield pairing. They both play relatively simple football. But that simplicity is what works for Chelsea at the moment.
Against Newcastle, Caicedo completed four tackles, the most of any player on the pitch. Meanwhile, both Caicedo and Lavia can boast pass completion rates of 94% and 95% respectively.
Maresca is extremely active on the touchline and is often seen urging his players to calm down. The Italian wants Chelsea to play calm and scientific football, rather than rushing.
Speaking at the press conference after the win over Newcastle, Maresca said he wanted his players to pass the ball 25 times or more in a build-up situation. Part of the reason is to avoid being caught out. And Lavia and Caicedo fit the bill perfectly.
"There are games, especially today, where if you play basketball, they will destroy us. Newcastle are strong, they play well, they have some good players in transition. The reason I say be calm is because this is the type of game where before you attack, you need to make 15, 20 or 25 passes.
"If you want to attack with two passes, you will be far away, they will win the ball back and cause problems. That's why I shouted during the whole game to be calm and pass the ball," Maresca said.
Maresca also explained why he trusted Lavia and Caicedo instead of Fernandez: "Lavia and Caicedo, both play well. When they don't have the ball, they fight together, they show their desire to win and get 3 points."
Fernandez is a complete and forward-thinking midfielder. The 2022 World Cup winner would still be useful for Maresca. However, with Reece James and Malo Gusto often playing in midfield, Fernandez's style would be less needed at Chelsea.
