It’s all doom and gloom around Stamford Bridge, and rightly so after a horrible 2022/23 season. But Frank Lampard can still put a smile on the faces of Chelsea fans with his team selections in the final three remaining games.
We would really love to see Lampard use his final few matches as the Blues caretaker manager to give supporters a glimpse into the future.
In our view, Enzo Fernandez and Carney Chukwuemeka should start together for the first time during this weekend’s trip to Manchester City.
Enzo and Carney combo
Enzo Fernandez, 22, has been a nailed-on starter in the Blues team since his January arrival from Benfica.
The Argentine’s had a whole host of different midfield partners and we suspect we’ll see the best of him if the club signs a No 6 to play with him next season.
There’s no doubt he’s a player for the here and now. However, at his age we would like to think he’ll be a long-term key figure as well.
Meanwhile, Carney Chukwuemeka is another young talent on the club’s books.
The 19-year-old box-to-box midfielder is still someway down the pecking order, making just 12 first-team appearances during his debut season at Stamford Bridge.
But we want to see the English teenager starting now, especially as he’s delayed joining up with England for the Under-20s World Cup tournament. The Evening Standard explained this week that Chukwuemeka is staying with Chelsea for these final three Premier League matches rather than fly out with England.
For us, a midfield combination of Fernandez-Chukwuemeka is one the Chelsea fans should be dreaming of for years to come. Maybe we could throw in a No 6 to knit everything together, too.
Our message to Lampard is for him to give Chukwuemeka this opportunity in the remainder of the season, starting with Sunday’s trip to Manchester City in a game the opposition can clinch the title in.
It’s been frustrating that the English teenager hasn’t had a look-in since Lampard’s return on an interim basis, but injuries in his squad has now somewhat forced his hand.
Chukwuemeka definitely hasn’t looked out of place in the senior team so we want to see how he shapes up against the best.
His physicality and dribbling, accompanied with Fernandez’s vision and aggression, has the makings of an exciting midfield.