CHELSEA star Enzo Fernandez has revealed he will operate in a different midfield role this season.
The Argentine is also set to switch to his favourite shirt number in his first full season at the club.
Enzo Fernandez will occupy a new role for Chelsea this seasonGetty
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Mauricio Pochettino is set to switch things up after succeeding Frank Lampard, and he has spoken to Fernandez about his new role.
Fernandez, 22, revealed he will be given freedom to roam having previously played as a holding midfielder with the responsibility of protecting the back four.
Explaining his conversation with Pochettino, Fernandez said: “We talked a little bit about everything, where I felt most comfortable, everything.
“The truth is that yes, I like to play loose, and the function that I am going to fulfill this year is going to be that, playing double five but a little looser, trying not to have the responsibility I had last season, playing five alone.
“Now, with a five more next to me, obviously I will have much more freedom, but without detracting from the position, in the sense that I also have to defend, we have to help the team in that way.”
Fernandez also has a new shirt number this season, taking over the number eight shirt previously held by Mateo Kovacic, who departed for Manchester City this summer.
The World Cup winner wore number 13 previously at Benfica and River Plate but explained he always loved ‘8’ growing up.
He said: “Before I had said that it was a number that identified me as a boy, I always used it playing baby. It’s a number that I like a lot, I have it tattooed, and that’s more why I asked for it, because I like it.
“I didn’t get a chance to talk to Frank that he was going to use the number, but I do know the history he demands and everything he’s achieved throughout his career here at Chelsea.
“To be able to get to that for me is also a very big challenge.”
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