Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior is banking on Enzo Fernández to steer the team toward success amid rumors of interest from Real Madrid.
The World Cup-winning player joined Chelsea from Benfica in February 2023 for a record British fee. After a challenging start at Stamford Bridge, he has become a crucial part of the plans of various Chelsea coaches.
His signing was pivotal to the recruitment strategies of the owners, BlueCo, who swiftly secured a deal following Fernández’s standout performances that helped Argentina earn the world championship in Qatar.
Addressing the speculation over Fernández’s future, Rosenior stated, “It doesn’t concern me. Being a world-class player always brings speculation beyond your control. He’s a Chelsea player and essential to our plans. I envision a strong, successful relationship with him both now and in the future.”
There have been discussions regarding the most effective role for Fernández on the field. He has primarily played in a deeper midfield position alongside Moisés Caicedo, but at times Chelsea has struggled, appearing lightweight with much of the defensive load on Caicedo, who is the more physical player.
Former coach Enzo Maresca at times deployed Fernández in a more advanced No. 10 role when Cole Palmer was unavailable due to injury. This positioning allowed Fernández to maximize his passing skills and arrive effectively in goal-scoring opportunities.
In Chelsea’s recent 2-0 victory over Brentford, Rosenior initially utilized Fernández in his conventional midfield role before advancing him after the introduction of Andrey Santos in the second half.
Santos, who Rosenior previously coached at Strasbourg, is a strong candidate to partner with Caicedo.
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However, positioning Fernández as a No. 10 raises the question of how to utilize Palmer, who has struggled for form lately and was shifted to the right wing during the latter part of the match against Brentford.
Despite this, Fernández remains a top priority in Rosenior’s strategy. “He possesses exceptional technical ability, covers significant ground, and is a fine athlete. He can score and effectively arrives in goal-scoring positions when playing higher up, be it as a forward-running eight or a No. 10,” he declared.
“My task is to explore the chemistry surrounding his position. It’s not solely about him; it’s also about fitting other players around him. He can perform well as a deeper six, a role in which he excelled against Arsenal. He also delivered a strong performance as a No. 10 against Charlton.”
“I prefer not to confine players to specific roles. Throughout my career, I’ve utilized players in varied positions.”
Rosenior also revealed that discussions are ongoing about the future of Raheem Sterling, who has not featured for the team over the past 18 months. “We’re exploring various options and hopefully, clarity will come in the coming days,” he said.