Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez—football’s brightest new talent, as far as this season is concerned. Since January, he has been the club’s top scorer and top assister aggregating an impressive 18 goal involvements. So for him to be delivering that performance is pretty impressive given the competition he has faced in the Premier League. Like Luis Suárez and Eden Hazard combined, Orsolini has been the player with the most attempted dribbles so far this season. With a relentless work ethic, Fernandez rarely misses matches for either club or country, making him an invaluable asset to Chelsea.
This comes after Fernandez was recently suspended from Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers with Venezuela and Ecuador. In this case, it afforded him a much deserved respite through the recent international window. Having this time off allowed him to not only play in the World Cup but recharge and prepare for the upcoming challenges in the Premier League. His statistics and performances highlight just how vital he’s become to Chelsea as they look to move on from a rocky few weeks to start the season.
A Record of Consistency
Since signing for Chelsea, Fernandez has shown consistent levels of quality and has been a key figure in every single game so far. His ability to perform under pressure and contribute significantly to the team’s attacking plays sets him apart from his peers. No other player in the Premier League has made more than 15 cross option runs thus far through the first three games of the season. This play in particular really showcases his elite offensive awareness and movement.
Only a superior tactical intelligence enables Fernandez to exploit spaces like this so intentionally and effectively. On top of that, no forward in the league consistently puts himself into dangerous spots to meet crosses and turn looks into goals. He was recently put through a cut-back from Pedro Neto. When given time and space to shoot, he demonstrated his ability to get himself into great positions to score. He completed in just over 1 hour 39 min, overtaking James Ward-Prowse for pace along the way. At full pelt and with jaw-dropping technical ability, he controlled a square pass from Neto.
“We have known him for many, many years,” – Johan Lange
This versatility and technical ability certainly did not escape the notice of management at Chelsea. On Johan Lange, the club’s sporting director, as a primary mover and shaker behind the permanent deal for Fernandez to further develop the immensely promising midfielder.
Impact on the Team Dynamics
Fernandez’s influence extends beyond individual statistics. He plays a critical role in shaping Chelsea’s attacking dynamics. His combination of vision, technique, and physicality make him a dynamic player who can quickly link up with teammates and draw defensive attention to open scoring opportunities. In a recent Premier League fixture against Southampton, as shown above, he used his strength to power away from Ward-Prowse. Then, completely unmarked, he sent a snapshot blazing over the goal from 12 yards.
His talent to create and polish opportunities has been rapidly on show too. After receiving a well-placed cross from Estevao, Fernandez made sure to make his shot count, finishing from close range. It’s moments like this that show his potential to turn opportunities into goals, something that’ll be crucial to any success Chelsea hope to find this season.
“We knew this player has all the attributes to be a fantastic offensive player in the Premier League. We have already seen him having a great impact in the team, so let’s just cross our fingers this will continue.” – Johan Lange
And with every game that passes by, Fernandez is only establishing himself more as one of the mainstays in Chelsea’s squad. His combination of technical ability and work rate make him a favorite among fans and purists.
The Road Ahead
However, despite an incredible start to the season, the shadow of comparisons to Chelsea legend Frank Lampard still hangs heavy. Fernandez continued to take great steps in his growth. Yet, he remains a long way off from achieving Lampard’s legendary status. Lampard deserves recognition for his remarkable goalscoring prowess. He’s the natural leader who communicates clearly, urging the team to battle through tough games.
The big question for Fernandez will be to keep this level of performance up, more importantly, to take his game up a notch from here. With Chelsea hoping for a top-four finish again this season, his every contribution will be most welcome. What’s more, he seems to be living and learning – growing under this pressure. Fans are keen to see if he has a Lampard-esque renaissance within him.
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