Thread by @CFCCentral3

Video Scouting Report – Enzo Fernandez (Benfica)

- Physical, Tactical, Technical, Psychological Strengths
- Why Chelsea are willing to shell out €100m+
- Where he fits
- Weaknesses/Scope to Improve

As always, all comments, RTs are warmly appreciated!

21 y.o Enzo's rise has been meteoric. From winning the Copa Sudamericana on loan at Defensa y Justicia, he nearly joined Wolves, won the Argentinian First Division with boyhood club River Plate, joined Benfica and then won the World Cup & Best Young Player award with Argentina.

System: At Benfica, Enzo plays in a 4-2-3-1 as one of the two double pivots. His DM partner, Florentino Luis, is a hard running defensive presence, selflessly allowing Enzo to focus on his progressive strengths & to maraud forward to support the attack. The left side also allows

him the right angles for his extensive passing range. Benfica also have an aggressive press (7.95 ppda), which suits Enzo's aggressive, high-intensity style, one he became familiar with under Marcelo Gallardo at River. Benfica's 4-2-3-1 becomes a 4-4-2 out of possession.

For Argentina at WC, Enzo showed excellent tactical versatility. Was the lone DM in a 4-3-3 vs Poland, then played in a 4-4-2 diamond vs Croatia, adapting to his role superbly. Plays all 3 roles (including attacking 6 at Benfica) to a very high level.

Technical Strengths – Progressive Passing: One of Europe's finest progressors. Is adept at breaking every line of the opp. with sharp, passes & does so more frequently than anyone in Europe's top 8 leagues. Makes him a useful weapon vs deep blocks too.

Long passing – Fantastic long passer. Attempts + completes more long passes than 99% of midfielders in Europe. Usually switches play from the left/center lanes to the right, a treat for someone like Reece James. Can also find runners behind the last line.

Technique – Excellent passing/shooting technique. Long-range shooting technique for instance is clean; his strikes impart minimal rotation to the ball despite possessing speed and power, making them dip on keepers. Can also curl shots/passes when needed

Technique – His technical excellence is also apparent in the way he uses trivelas/outside of the right foot to access passing options that would only be available to his weaker foot. Can also use these trivelas for long balls.

Long range shooting – Ball striking makes him a very handy shooter from range. Should be encouraged to take more shots from around the box, considering the power and movement his technique generates makes them tough to handle for GKs.

Ground Duels/Tackling – Hard as nails tackler who goes in uncompromisingly into challenges. Contests 3-4 duels/game (5.4 in the CL.) Tackles frequently and with conviction which often leaves its mark on the receiver. Made 10 tackles in the WC final.

Finishing – Underrated part of his game. Technique coupled with moving into the box from deeper positions makes him a decent threat. Scored 7 in 15 starts in the Copa at River Plate. Movement in the box a lot more evident when not held back tactically.

Psychological Strength – Workrate/Determination: Shows great spirit. Engages fearlessly, reacts aggressively to losing the ball, tracks runners at both ends. At WC, when he played 90+ mins, outran everyone bar Tchouameni in the final (covered 15+ kms 2x)

Physical strength is good & supplemented well by a fantastic engine & tough mental attributes. On the downside, he lacks explosive speed over the first few yards, but once he hits top speed, he is able to compete with the quickest. Can improve further.

Psychological – Mentality: Tends to up his game significantly on the big occasions. Best performances have come vs PSG, Juventus + in the World Cup (strong in the final.) Relishes strong opponents like Reece James. Seeks to influence every phase.

Tactical Strengths – Showing/Offers: A key strength is Enzo's willingness to constantly ask for the ball, even under severe pressure. His technical assuredness & awareness allows him to draw pressure to him, before releasing the ball to an underloaded side

First Phase Organizer – This makes him excellent in the build up phase. He is able to drop to CB, to open space between opp. lines, and he is good receiving with back to goal as well. Constantly demands the ball even after he makes mistakes. A big plus.

Intelligence – Hard to encompass concisely, but reads the game very well. Evident in how he knows exactly which short passing option to pick before he receives, even if it is a difficult pass to execute. Also moves into the right spaces at the right time.

Weaknesses – Closing Down: Lack of explosive pace + aggression sees him make mistakes while attempting to close down opponents. Misses interceptions/tackles often, getting dribbled past frequently (dribbled past 6 times in the WC final.) Needs to be wiser.

Defensive Positioning – Still getting up to speed on European football in his first year. Can be slightly late in cutting out passing lanes. Elite DMs intercept passes that he often allows around him. Averaged less than 1 interception in league (1.8 in CL)

Delayed Release – Like most creative passers, can hold on to ball for a second too long when under pressure. Tries too hard to keep possession when a simpler pass can prevent him being dispossessed. These decisions leave team under pressure.

Over-Aggression – Can be very rash with his tackles. Far too many sliding tackles that lead to yellows or worse, leave him unable to recover in case he misses. Needs to apply it better in a league that will be very quick, or risk unnecessary cautions.

Aerial Presence: At 5'10, does not possess a great leap even though he does decently in aerial duels (0.6 aerial won/90 | 38% win.) This leaves doubts on his ability to recover loose balls in the PL. Rodri, for instance, competes in 3 aerial duels per game, and has won

68%+ in every season bar one in last 5-and-a-half seasons. Rice has won around 60% in the last 3-and-a-half. On att. corners, Benfica use him at the edge of the box, to utilize his threat. But in PL, will be under pressure to recover loose aerial balls.

Where he fits – Enzo's tough tackling DLP profile would add a bite & toughness that Chelsea have missed for years. His excellent technical attributes in the first phase + progressive strengths suggest he is viewed as an upgrade on Jorginho, who is out of contract in the summer.

How to use him – Enzo's ability to contribute in every phase + his sheer industry make him the ideal B2B. You want him contributing in the first phase, linking midfield to attack with passing & then arriving around the box to threaten/recycle possession.

He would be strongest next to a right sided defensive-minded presence who can offer support & allow him to contribute in the middle and attacking 3rds. In a midfield 3, he can play as the DM to accommodate two 8s, but that would limit his strengths & expose his defensive flaws.

Is he worth €120m? In my humble opinion, no. However, the lack of young, highly malleable CMs in the market defines the price. Tchouameni went for around €100m; Bellingham will cost similar. Chelsea haven't invested in midfield since 2018. This is one half of the rebuild.

However, buying JUST Enzo does not solve frailties in midfield. A defensive enforcer excelling at duels & def. transitions is a necessity to complement Enzo's strengths. Luis provides it at Benfica, but even he struggles due to an aggressive style of play.

In essence, Enzo's tenacity, workrate and high ceiling all fit perfectly into Chelsea's long-term vision of rebuilding the engine room. He also adds a desperate injection of creativity. There is also a sense that missing out on the progressive strengths of Gvardiol may have urged

Chelsea to choose Enzo over Bellingham, to add much needed penetration/creativity in the middle & attacking 3rds, where the current midfield offers very limited influence. If/when deal is done, Chelsea should look to acquire a midfield partner to accentuate his key strengths.

Enzo is a great bet on one of the world's best young midfielders. His psychological profile alone could lift an aging, injury-ridden & inconsistent midfield. Winning the WC by barging into the first XI during the WC, then starring in different roles is a testament to his rise.