Enzo and Caicedo: Do Chelsea have the Premier League's best midfield pairing?

 

Enzo Fernandez opened the 2023/24 Premier League campaign in fine form, delivering a midfield masterclass on Sunday as Chelsea drew 1-1 with Liverpool.  

 

That wouldn’t - or shouldn’t! - have surprised anyone. At just 22 years of age, he’s won silverware with three separate clubs, lifted the FIFA World Cup and broken the British transfer record in January. He’s an exceptional footballer, no debate. 

 

What may have surprised some, though, was the nature of his performance. It was so much more expansive and involved than we’ve come to expect in a blue shirt, and it’s representative of one of the first big moves new manager Mauricio Pochettino has made. He’s freed up Enzo to be a big influence all over the pitch - not just from the defensive midfield zone. 

 

What followed was close to a complete performance: 120 touches, 101 passes at a 90.4% completion rate, two dribbles, a tackle, SIX blocks and even a chance on goal, following an impressive, surging run from deep.  

 

It’s that run and shot that really stood out, as it’s something he simply wasn’t able to do last season. Previous manager Graham Potter chained him to the base of midfield, restricting him to a deep-lying role that asked for progressive passing in the first phase of buildup, but not a whole lot else, while any sort of defined tactic under Frank Lampard was conspicuous by its blatant absence. 

 

On Sunday, Enzo impacted every column, corner and third of the pitch, affecting every phase of play. He combined great energy and the occasional surging run with his usual mastery of the passing game, knowing instinctively when to slow play down and retain possession - or when to speed things up and launch an attack. 

 

It was reminiscent of his dynamic performances at the heart of Argentina’s World Cup-winning side, where his box-to-box ability shone through. He was slightly more reserved at Benfica, but by nature of the team’s dominance in games, often found himself in the final third with the ball at his feet. 

 

 

Poch’s commitment to unleashing Enzo has already been made abundantly clear, as he pulled the trigger on it before the ideal midfield partner - Moises Caicedo - had been secured. He had Enzo start as he means for him to carry on, temporarily filling the Caicedo gap by sacrificing Conor Gallagher to a balancing role he grew into as the game wore on. 

 

Now, take Enzo’s performance from Sunday and put Caicedo alongside it. It’s one hell of a pairing, excellent at almost everything, bringing together two midfielders who compliment each other extremely well. 

 

Caicedo’s defensive numbers in the Premier League last season were topped only, respectively, by Joao Palhinha and Declan Rice; he totalled 100 tackles and 56 interceptions, the second-most in each category. When you add that to his obvious comfort on the ball - he averaged just shy of 60 passes per game in Brighton’s possession-heavy system - and his ability to receive under pressure and build play from the back, you’ve got a complete skill set for a modern No. 6. 

 

This is one fierce duo; a pair who will likely eschew any sort of “you defend, I’ll attack” mantra and instead do a bit of everything, working to cover each other and help each other. Perfectly balanced, as all things should be. 

 

Fair questions can be raised over Chelsea’s convoluted pursuit of both; it’s taken an age to secure these deals and the transfer fees involved are, truly, outright eyesores. Breaking the British transfer record in consecutive transfer windows to completely reset your midfield is rarely a good look. 

 

But there’s no doubting the quality of the players, and at ages 21 and 22, the Blues are set to enjoy a potential decade of dominance from Enzo and Caicedo. There may even be a point in the not-so-distant future that they’re considered the best midfield pairing in the league, although any midfield including Rodri will have something to say about that. 

 

Add in the acquisitions Romeo Lavia, the wonderfully press-resistant 20-year-old, Lesley Ugochukwu, the 19-year-old enforcer, and two roaming, dribbling teens in Andrey Santos and Carney Chukwuemeka, and Pochettino has an incredible array of young talent to mould in reserve. Conor Gallagher, at 23, adds a homegrown feel and a little experience to the group for the time being, too. 

 

That’s true quality, true depth and a clear sign that it won’t be long before Chelsea are back fighting at the summit of the Premier League.

Enzo and Caicedo: Do Chelsea have the Premier League's best midfield pairing?