There is an unparalleled brilliance in players who are able to dictate the tempo of a football match. Unfazed by the chaos around them, these players are the metronome of their team. With their actions, they dictate the range, the verticality, the speed, and the focus of possession. This rare talent is naturally moulded through years of development under unique circumstances. The beauty, therefore, lies in the scarcity and in the complex yet natural creation of this genre of players, and fittingly, the crowded and cultured streets of Buenos Aires produced its latest composer.
After leading River Plate’s midfield in 2022, Enzo Fernández earned a €10M move to Benfica. Under Roger Schmidt, the 21-year-old has broken straight into Benfica’s starting XI, unfazed by the transition to European football. Not only was the adaptation seamless, but in Benfica’s dominant set-up, Enzo has flourished. Statistically, the central midfielder has drastically improved his metrics, and tactically, he is the heartbeat of Schmidt’s side.
To further understand Enzo’s role and how he is able to dictate the game, it is important to first look at his positioning. His heatmap throughout the years illustrates his ability to occupy the entirety of the midfield. A traditional number eight, he is neither a defensive nor an advanced midfielder. On the contrary, he is the link between the defence and the attack.
In this year’s Primera División, the Argentine averaged the most passes amongst midfielders, with 69.48 per 90. His involvement was significant in River’s dominating tactics, and the same can be said at Benfica. In his first seven matches, the 21-year-old has averaged 95.72 passes per 90. His passing map in the first leg against Midtjylland highlights this volume in addition to illustrating its locations and range.
His significant role in dictating possession is only possible through his movement off the ball. He is constantly supporting possession and creating passing lanes. While he often comes deep to get the ball ahead of the defensive organisation, he is also able to find gaps within it. In these tight spaces, Enzo is incredibly comfortable. His technical ability is complemented by his vision and awareness. Knowing exactly how many touches to take and when to release the ball, he effortlessly dictates the attack and progresses through the opposition’s defence.
Against Arouca, for the first match of the Primeira Liga, Fernández received 125 passes. These began in his own third and progressed well into the opposition’s half.
It is through this volume that he is able to dictate the tempo. Enzo has an incredible ability to read the complex environment around him, understand what it needs, and perform accordingly. This point where the mind meets body and thought becomes action is crucial, and the accuracy and speed through which he performs is what sets him apart. The quality of his actions, like wine, is only getting better as he gets older. Nonetheless, the rare ability to naturally interact with the complex chaos around him is already there.
When required, Enzo is able to slow the game down and take control of it. As a maestro conducts the music, Enzo conducts the possession, determining where to go and how. Enzo is able to take control of the game by going from player to player with the ball and retaining possession. His constant passing and moving put him in charge of the play.
On the other hand, Enzo knows when the game must be sped up. His passing becomes faster and more vertical. The time he takes on the ball is minimal and the tempo increases. This is constantly done in transition or vertical scenarios.
While considering the tempo of the match, Enzo is also able to break lines and drive his team forward. His playmaking is intelligent and dynamic, varying in range and speed. At times, he will slowly bring the ball out of the back before launching a quick attack with a pass. When the speed is already high, he maintains it while also progressing forward.
The Argentine’s passing range is another weapon which enhances his playmaking. Enzo knows exactly when to go long, either to exploit space or escape pressure. At Benfica, he has averaged 9.59 long passes per 90 at an impressive 61.5% success rate.
In addition to dictating the speed of play, the passing verticality, and the range of passing, Enzo also controls the focus of attack. Defensive systems always look to remain compact, often moving entirely to one side at a time. Enzo is able to exploit this with quick switches of play. Understanding the natural flow of the defensive organisation and the space throughout the pitch, he knows exactly where and how to focus the attack.
This final example provides an overall picture of Enzo’s role in conducting possession. He comes deep to get the ball from the centre-backs before orchestrating the attack. A few seconds later, now in the final third, he is able to find the centre-forward in the penalty area with a perfectly weighted long ball.
Enzo Fernández possesses a natural ability to control the game. The Argentine naturally interacts with the chaos around him, dictating it and introducing order. Knowing when to slow down and when to speed up, Enzo is the metronome that guides his team. His transition to European football has been seamless, with the 21-year-old flourishing in Benfica’s set-up. If these performances are maintained, it will not be long before Enzo is orchestrating Europe’s elite clubs.