Mauricio Pochettino already has a Chelsea secret weapon at his disposal to support Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.
As we get ready for the second half of the season, Chelsea’s manager Mauricio Pochettino has yet to fully realize the potential of his lavishly crafted midfield.
This year, the Blues have shattered the British transfer record twice: in January, they paid £106 million to bring Argentinean Enzo Fernandez from Benfica, and in August, they reopened the well-traveled route between the Amex Stadium and Stamford Bridge to recruit Moises Caicedo of Brighton for £115 million.
It was anticipated that the two players would work together to lead Chelsea to success this season, but the memories of the 2022–2023 campaign have proven to be elusive thus far.
The first few months of the season have been dotted with moments of excellence; both teams’ victories over Burnley and Fulham in October were particularly strong. Then, despite playing in two of Chelsea’s finest games of the season—a 4-1 victory away at Tottenham Hotspur in November and a 4-4 draw against Manchester City—they both struggled.
At times, Caicedo and Fernandez were disoriented in midfield, allowing the attacking players in front of them to have a significant influence on their surroundings while they found it difficult to maintain control. Both players will undoubtedly get better in that area at the age of 22, but Pochettino finds himself in the startling position of having to make changes to a midfield that cost more than £200 million to assemble.
Lesley Ugochukwu started for Newcastle instead of Caicedo, but Eddie Howe’s team dominated him as they swept to a 4-1 victory at St. James’ Park. Due to injury, Conor Gallagher has been filling in as a makeshift No 10 when there were no other viable options.
Due to a knee injury sustained during preseason, Pochettino was unable to make his debut for the £53 million signing from RB Leipzig, Christopher Nkunku, a high-profile summer addition. Similarly, Carney Chukwuemeka participated in just two games this season before suffering a knee injury that kept him out of action.
However, Romeo Lavia, a 19-year-old, is another player who has the ability to turn Chelsea’s season around in the second half of the campaign. The former Southampton academy product joined Manchester City for an initial £53 million in August, but soon after his arrival, he had to watch games from the East Stand at Stamford Bridge due to an ankle injury.
Lavia was a bright spot for the Saints in the dreadful 2022–2023 campaign that resulted in their promotion to the Championship. The teenager’s departure during the summer was unavoidable, and Chelsea has gained while Southampton has lost.
Lavia has already demonstrated what he can accomplish as a starting No. 6 in the Premier League. He is incredibly self-assured with the ball at his feet, naturally resistive to pressure, and has a destructive side to his game in addition to his defensive approach. But what should really excite Pochettino and Chelsea supporters about the Belgian is what he can do for others.
Pochettino has mostly given Fernandez a free role in midfield, but despite his best efforts, the Argentinean doesn’t have much of an influence defensively. In theory, he should benefit from having Caiedo and Conor Gallagher in midfield since they are two of the best and most productive tacklers in the premier league.
However, things haven’t always gone that way, leaving many to wonder how Chelsea can maximize the potential of their No. 8. Lavia may be able to relieve some of his teammates’ defensive responsibilities and enable them to flourish in riskier areas of the field, so Pochettino will be hoping the teenager provides him with a fresh option that may be helpful.
