Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has emphasised that no player is irreplaceable, following his decision to drop record signing Enzo Fernandez from the Premier League starting lineup. The Argentine World Cup winner has been relegated to cup competitions and hasn’t started Chelsea’s last two league games.
Signed for £107 million ($138 million) from Benfica in January 2023, Fernandez now finds himself behind 19-year-old Romeo Lavia, whom Maresca favours as a midfield partner for Moises Caicedo. Maresca, however, reassured fans of his faith in Fernandez, stating, “I still trust him completely. The reason he isn’t playing in the Premier League is due to different tactical decisions at the moment.”
Fernandez, who has captained Chelsea in Reece James’s absence, has dropped in the pecking order as Lavia’s physicality has reshaped Maresca’s midfield preferences. “For me, we don’t have indispensable players,” Maresca explained. “If Cole Palmer doesn’t play, Joao Felix steps in. If Nico Jackson is out, Christo Nkunku takes his place. All players are important, but no one is untouchable.”
Rumours have circulated that Real Madrid might be interested in Fernandez in a cash-plus-player deal. However, Maresca clarified his focus on balance and physicality in midfield: “Romeo and Moises bring strength to the centre. With Enzo, it’s different, and sometimes we lack the physicality we get with Romeo and Moises.”
Chelsea are set to face Manchester United on Sunday, with Maresca seeking the right mix in his midfield to maintain stability.
