Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been advised to reconsider Enzo Fernandez’s role in the starting lineup to restore balance in midfield.
Former Blues defender Paul Parker believes Romeo Lavia, once fit, should replace Fernandez in Chelsea’s engine room.
Enzo Maresca Urged to Drop Enzo Fernandez for Better Chelsea Midfield Balance
The Blues got back to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over West Ham on Monday, but they are still struggling to recapture the early-season fluency that once made them potential title challengers.
A poor run of just two wins in their last eight Premier League matches has seen them fall behind the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal in the standings.
One of the biggest setbacks has been the absence of Lavia, who has played just 56 minutes of league football since sustaining an injury against Tottenham in December.
The Belgian midfielder is now facing an extended spell on the sidelines due to another muscle issue.
When Lavia was fit, he formed a solid partnership with Moises Caicedo, providing Chelsea with much-needed stability in midfield.
Parker insists that once Lavia is fully fit, he should be immediately reinstated in the starting XI at the expense of Fernandez.
“Fernandez and Caicedo don’t work well together,” Parker told CryptoCasinosUK.
“I would drop Fernandez and play Caicedo alongside Lavia. That would provide a much better balance.”
Parker also questioned Fernandez’s temperament, suggesting the Argentine’s aggressive playing style could be a liability.
“Fernandez has that fire in the belly, which is common among Argentinians, but it sometimes works against him,” he added.
“Caicedo is more calculated and can do the dirty work effectively.”
Beyond midfield concerns, Parker urged Chelsea to sign a proven goal scorer to compete with Nicolas Jackson. The Senegalese striker started the season well but has not found the net in the league since December.
“Jackson is a hard worker, which is why Maresca keeps picking him, but Chelsea need a clinical finisher,” Parker noted.
“They need a Drogba-type striker if they want to compete at the top level.”
Chelsea’s squad still has the potential to challenge, but Maresca may need to make tough decisions—including dropping Fernandez—to find the right balance in midfield and attack.
