Frank Lampard believes that Chelsea can still get more out of Enzo Fernandez should he be used in a more advanced position as the Blues look to bounce back from a disappointing season and back into contention in 2023/24. The west London side have seen a great deal of investment in the side over the last 12 months but the Blues caretaker boss believes a Chelsea ‘core might have to be developed’, as new, younger stars find their feet. Fernandez can undoubtedly be seen as someone who has settled into Stamford Bridge life quickly amid difficult circumstances. Having arrived for a £106.7million, the World Cup-winner has started every match for the Blues and being a highlight of a disappointing season. Lampard has spoken a lot in recent weeks about players understanding what is to play for Chelsea. He believes the 22-year-old gets it entirely.
Frank Lampard said: “Yes. Enzo gets it. He gets what’s required in training. He gets what’s required to be a Chelsea player. He’s got a high talent. Some players just get it. I keep talking about giving players time. But when you work with someone, you understand it very quickly, and I think he gets it.”
While Lampard believes Fernandez will be central to Chelsea’s future, he also pressed that he should be given time.
Frank Lampard said: “I think we have to look at people like Enzo and Mudryk and Noni and say they will need to be given time, All the younger players deserve that. It’s not easy to come into a team that isn’t winning. With Enzo, I’ve been really impressed with him as a player, his attitude to training, his attitude to games, his determination. There is something about him. He doesn’t speak the language much at all but he’s learning fast. I’ve got a lot of faith that Enzo will be a big part of what happens in the future of this club. I feel for him a little bit. He’s had a massive move to the Premier League. He’s won the World Cup. He should be sitting back at the end of this season quite rightly putting his feet up and saying: ‘What a year.’ But in terms of how he can affect the future I see him as being essential to the future.”
Getting the best out of record-signing Fernandez will be key to the development of the team under a new coach and with Chelsea’s transfer priorities lying up front, in goal and in midfield, the profile of the latter will be pivotal. Fernandez has predominantly being fielded at the base of midfield but has hinted at his capabilities higher up the pitch with some quality assists during his short time with the club.
Frank Lampard said: “My personal view of Enzo is he can play probably in all of the midfield roles. I think seeing him train and play and getting the feeling from him that he probably has more to offer than to be a single six, as much as he can play as a double-six where he can join into the game more, play as an eight where he can join the game more and offer the really good attributes he’s got across his game. That’s my personal opinion, I’ve not asked him the question. In my time here, it’s been a fact that he’s been the most natural six out of a midfield that doesn’t have so many natural sixes in my opinion. Fair play to him, he’s never once said to me ‘that’s not for me’ because I think that’s what his attitude is like, to do the best for the team. Going forward, I think he can join into the game more, we saw little bits of it against Manchester City where he played in the double-six. He ended up higher up the pitch, he’s got a really good eye to play forward. At the minute it’s something we as a team, as club have not been doing enough in my opinion. Playing forward and being more direct in our game higher up the pitch, finding passes that really test the opposition – Enzo can play that pass so being up the pitch is a good thing.”
