Ally McCoist says he would start Romeo Lavia over ‘world-class’ Chelsea player

Add as preferred source on Google

It is fair to say that Ally McCoist was impressed with Romeo Lavia in Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City last weekend.

Romeo Lavia joined Chelsea from Southampton last summer, but it was his first start for the club.

The midfielder missed practically the whole of the 2023/24 campaign because of injury, but he is fit again and managed to make quite the impression against City.

Though Enzo Maresca‘s side were not able to win the game, Chelsea fans were happy with Lavia’s performance.

• READ MORE: Gary Neville says he thought Chelsea player looked ‘very good’ in loss to Man City

Ally McCoist discusses Romeo Lavia, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo

Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo also started in midfield for Chelsea on the day.

However, McCoist still has his doubts about the South American duo and says he would pick Lavia over the former if he had to.

Creating his own Chelsea starting XI for talkSPORT on Tuesday, the Rangers legend said: “Two holders. I didn’t play Fernandez. I played Conor Gallagher — another one that won’t be there — and Romeo Lavia. On the basis of one game, he’s still shown me more than probably Caicedo and Fernandez have!”

Last season, Leeds United’s Mateo Joseph hailed Fernandez as a “world-class” player, but the 23-year-old is yet to win over everyone.

Romeo Lavia and Enzo Fernandez can both start for Chelsea

It does not have to be one or the other with Lavia and Fernandez, as Maresca showed in the City game after starting both of them.

There will be games this season where Lavia, Fernandez and Caicedo all start, perhaps when Chelsea definitely need an extra man in midfield.

However, Maresca is also in possession of a lot of attackers, including new signing Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku.

To fit all of that attacking talent into the same team, the Chelsea manager may need to drop one midfielder for certain matches.

If Lavia continues to play like how he did against City, then it should not be him. But with Fernandez and Caicedo costing more than £100m each, they are always going to be untouchables at Stamford Bridge. It could prove to be a bit of a headache if you are Maresca.