And amid a below-par team display, there was another ineffective performance from £107million man Enzo Fernandez. The Argentinian struggled to get on the ball and create anything meaningful for his side, leading to him being hooked after 63 minutes and replaced by Armando Broja.
Fernandez, 22, was signed by Graham Potter during Todd Boehly’s lavish spending spree last January, despite having only been at Benfica for a matter of months. But his pivotal role in his country’s World Cup win in Qatar also elevated him into the transfer limelight, with Chelsea winning the race to his signature.
And yet the defeat to Championship side Boro put further emphasis on his drop in form since arriving at Stamford Bridge. At the Liga Portugal club, he averaged 110 touches and 84 accurate passes per game, but his latest showing in blue was signified by only 50 touches and 41 balls to team-mates.
Enzo Fernandez struggled against Middlesbrough in the League Cup. (Image: Getty)
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The respective goal records are also telling. Fernandez struck four times in 29 games for Benfica, a total he’s only matched at Chelsea despite having made 45 club appearances. He's also only got three assists at Chelsea to his seven in Portugal.
To compound another dispiriting night for the River Plate youth product, home fans chanted ‘what a waste of money’ when he left the pitch at the Riverside. The chant was audibly heard during Sky Sports’ live coverage, and the taunts are likely to continue if Fernandez can’t rediscover his best form.
Amid a series of dilemmas, Pochettino will now surely consider changing the make-up of his midfield to give more freedom to one of the club’s key players.
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Fernandez however, is hardly the only player currently under-fire at Chelsea. Attacker Cole Palmer wasted a series of chances in front of goal, while record-signing Moises Caicedo again struggled for impact.
Centre-back Thiago Silva was also involved in a heated debate with travelling fans at the final whistle, with the away following clearly furious at their side’s inept display. And the remainder of their month could yet define their season, with games against Fulham and Liverpool in the Premier League, as well as the second leg and an FA Cup fourth round tie with Aston Villa.