Enzo Maresca advised to bench Chelsea star: ‘It’s not working’
Enzo Maresca has been urged to consider leaving Enzo Fernandez out of the starting lineup to establish a better balance in Chelsea’s midfield.
Chelsea returned to winning form with a 2-1 victory over West Ham on Monday, but the team is still struggling to recapture the fluency they displayed at the start of the season.
At one point, Maresca’s team seemed capable of challenging Liverpool for the Premier League title, but with only two wins from their last eight league matches, they’ve now fallen behind the leading pack.
While injuries have plagued several players, the absence of Romeo Lavia has perhaps been the most noticeable in recent weeks.
The Belgian has only played 56 minutes of league action since being substituted at half-time during Chelsea’s match against Tottenham in early December, and he’s now facing another extended absence due to a muscle injury.
Earlier in the season, when fit, Lavia had taken Fernandez’s place in midfield, bringing a more natural balance alongside Moises Caicedo in Maresca’s setup.
Former Chelsea defender Paul Parker believes the 21-year-old should be immediately reinstated to the starting XI in place of Fernandez once he’s fully fit.
“Honestly, I would drop Fernandez and put Moises Caicedo alongside Romeo Lavia,” said Parker. “I think that offers much better balance.”
Parker also criticized Fernandez, stating, “I think Fernandez is too easily frustrated, which can give opposing teams an advantage. He’s got that fiery spirit that’s often seen in Argentinians.”