Following Chelsea’s 2-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City, Chelsea legend Pat Nevin has called on midfielder Enzo Fernandez to enhance his defensive role for the team. Fernandez, who was filling in as captain due to Reece James’s absence, struggled to impact the game as Manchester City secured the victory with goals from Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic.
In his analysis on BBC Radio 5 Live, Nevin criticized Fernandez’s performance, highlighting his lack of involvement both defensively and offensively. Nevin noted that Fernandez appeared “very, very quiet” in his role as a number 10, emphasizing that a player in that position needs to be central to both attacking and defensive efforts. Nevin also pointed out that Fernandez’s failure to cover spaces defensively and contribute effectively in attack was a significant concern. He suggested that other midfielders, like Conor Gallagher, might feel they can perform better in such a role.