Sports
“I prefer Gallagher to Enzo Fernandez” — Mauricio Pochettino
West-London club, Chelsea may not have started the season on fine form, but manager, Mauricio Pochettino has opened up on why he is sidelining midfield maestro, Enzo Fernandez.
The Chelsea manager has now shed light on why midfielder Enzo Fernandez was not and is currently not considered for the captaincy role within the team.
In a significant transfer move back in January 2023, Chelsea made headlines by breaking the British transfer record, securing the services of Fernandez from Portuguese outfit Benfica for a reported fee of £106.8 million.
While Enzo Fernandez faced initial challenges adapting to his new environment at Stamford Bridge, his performances have shown signs of improvement in the current season.
Nevertheless, Chelsea as a collective unit has struggled, accumulating only five points from their first five matches.
As the team prepared for their upcoming clash against Aston Villa on Sunday, Pochettino answered questions regarding Chelsea’s captaincy hierarchy.
This inquiry arose after Conor Gallagher was unexpectedly handed the captain’s armband in the previous weekend’s game, despite reports of his potential departure during the summer transfer window.
Furthermore, the experienced Thiago Silva was also on the pitch at the time.
Pochettino offered insight into the situation, stating,
“Thiago is an experienced player who doesn’t necessarily require the captain’s armband.
“What’s crucial for us is to build for the future, not just focusing on the present. While he’s there, the captaincy is not solely about wearing the armband on your arm.”
He continued,
“To clarify, I believe Thiago may have considered passing the captaincy to Enzo, but Enzo is still grappling with the English language.
“In situations where communication with the referee and others is necessary, I believe Conor is better equipped for the role. Personally, I prefer Conor because he can communicate fluently in English.”
Pochettino elaborated on his decision, saying,
“I think Enzo is not yet ready to take on the role of captain. It’s not merely about character, personality, or player profile.
“Effective communication with teammates and officials is essential, and if you haven’t mastered the language, it can pose challenges to assume the captaincy.
“This is my opinion; perhaps I’m mistaken, but it’s my perspective on the matter.”
