Mauricio Pochettino already has Chelsea secret weapon to help Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo
Chelsea have a lavishly-assembled midfield but manager Mauricio Pochettino is still yet to truly unlock its full potential as we prepare for the second half of the season.
The Blues broke the British transfer record twice this year, first to sign Argentinian Enzo Fernandez for £106million from Benfica in January before reopening the well-trodden path between the Amex Stadium and Stamford Bridge to sign Brighton’s Moises Caicedo for £115million in August.
It was hoped that the two players combined would help spearhead a revival of fortunes for Chelsea this season, though so far the ghosts from the 2022/23 campaign have proved difficult to shake off.
There have been pockets of form littered throughout the early months of the campaign — both were excellent in the wins over Fulham and Burnley in October. They then both played in the 4-1 win away at Tottenham Hotspur in November and the 4-4 draw against Manchester City, two of Chelsea’s best results of the season, and struggled.
Caicedo and Fernandez were lost in midfield at times, with the attacking talents ahead of them having a big impact as they struggled to exert a sense of control on their surroundings. At 22 years of age, both players will no doubt improve in that regard, but Pochettino is in the staggering position of needing to change something about a midfield that cost more than £200million to bring together.
Lesley Ugochukwu was given a start in place of Caicedo at Newcastle but he was overrun by Eddie Howe’s side who romped to a 4-1 win at St James’ Park. Conor Gallagher has been playing as a makeshift No 10 in the absence of better options due to injuries.
Pochettino went through the first months of the season without high-profile summer arrival Christopher Nkunku,
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