Julian Nagelsmann has recently demonstrated to Enzo Maresca how to unleash Chelsea’s version of Toni Kroos. The retirement of the 34-year-old midfielder, Enzo Fernandez, has raised some eyebrows in the football world. However, his performance in the Germany vs. Scotland match during the Euro 2024 group stage was nothing short of masterful. With Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala scoring early goals for Germany, Kai Havertz adding a penalty goal, and Niclas Fullkrug and Emre Can also finding the back of the net, the team secured a convincing victory.
Despite the stellar performances of his teammates, it was Kroos who stole the show with his impeccable passing accuracy. He completed an astounding 99% of his passes during the match, solidifying his reputation as a playmaking maestro. Nagelsmann’s use of Kroos as a deep-lying playmaker serves as a blueprint for Maresca on how to utilize Fernandez at Chelsea. By having Fernandez drop deep to receive the ball and dictate possession, Nagelsmann was able to maximize Kroos’ impact on the game.
Previous Chelsea managers, such as Frank Lampard and Mauricio Pochettino, have had different ideas about Fernandez’s best position on the field. Lampard believed that Fernandez could excel in various midfield roles, while Pochettino experimented with pushing him further forward. However, it seems that Nagelsmann’s approach of utilizing Fernandez as a deep-lying playmaker could unlock his full potential at Chelsea. With a renewed sense of purpose following his surgery, Fernandez could thrive in this new role under Maresca’s guidance.
By emulating Kroos’ style of play, Fernandez could become a key player for Chelsea, dictating the tempo of the game and creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. Maresca’s challenge will be to harness Fernandez’s skills and mold him into Chelsea’s own version of the legendary German midfielder. With the right guidance and tactical approach, Fernandez could be on track to make a significant impact at Stamford Bridge.
