I saw £30m Chelsea player prove he should start the next game instead of Enzo Fernandez

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It is fair to say the starting XI was by no means perfect for Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Premier League opener yesterday.

Enzo Maresca decided to name no new signings in the starting side for the opening match of the season, and this saw an exciting midfield named together for the first time ever.

Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia featured in midfield together, while Enzo Fernandez occupied a slightly more advanced role.

• READ MORE: Romeo Lavia was absolutely furious with £25m Chelsea teammate during 2-0 loss to Manchester City

Lavia impressed Chelsea fans with his first start for the club, however Fernandez was not at his best in his first appearance as captain of the club.

The balance in midfield looked all wrong, and the obvious solution to that problem would be bringing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall into the starting line-up.

Chelsea should start Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall over Enzo Fernandez

No one knows the midfielder’s game better than Maresca, who was in charge of him at Leicester City before his £30m move to West London.

His ability to link the midfield and attack could have been crucial in key moments yesterday, with Fernandez being the player who picked up the ball on the edge of the box in big opportunities.

The Englishman was brought on as a second half substitute as well as Pedro Neto, and the Blues had a few minutes where they were pushing for an equaliser before City wrestled back control.

Chelsea games coming thick and fast

Chelsea have a number of games coming in quick succession now both in Europe and the Premier League, and this will bring a number of opportunities for the manager to experiment with different combinations across the pitch.

Midfield is certainly one area where he should look to do this, and Dewsbury-Hall deserves the opportunity to start with the freedom of playing behind the attack in the coming games.

This could also help them get more out of Cole Palmer, who cut a frustrated figure at times as he struggled to get properly involved against his former side.