Maresca reveals the flexible role he has planned for Enzo Fernandez at City
Enzo Maresca has confirmed that new signing Enzo Fernandez will not be tied to a single position, describing the Argentine as a player who can operate as a deep-lying six or push higher as a number eight.
The City boss, speaking to the media ahead of the club’s third Premier League fixture of the season against Coventry City, outlined how he intends to deploy the World Cup winner following his move from Chelsea.
“As a six or also number eight, arriving in the box, it depends a little. With me at Chelsea he scored lots arriving from the second line, so it depends. We’re going to use him in different positions… I see Enzo as a six, a little more deep, or a little higher arriving in the box. [It] Depends a little what we need for the game and we’re going to use him in different positions.”
The flexibility is notable. Fernandez is widely regarded as an elite deep-lying playmaker, someone who typically dictates the tempo for Argentina. He did exactly that superbly at last summer’s World Cup and, at times, for Chelsea.
Yet Maresca’s comments suggest he sees more than a metronome in the middle. The reference to goals arriving from the second line hints at a player who can time runs into the box as well as sit and control proceedings.
It helps that the pair know each other well. Maresca worked extremely effectively with the Argentinian during their time together at Stamford Bridge, and now they will continue that relationship at the Etihad, with City heading into the campaign as both FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders.
Quite where Fernandez fits in the pecking order remains to be seen, but the early signs are that Maresca did not merely want a midfielder — he wanted this midfielder, the one he trusts to adapt to whatever the game demands.