Chelsea have struggled in the midfield this season, with manager Xabi Alonso dealing with a series of injuries and transfer complications. The club accepted a £120 million offer from Manchester City for Enzo Fernandez on transfer deadline day, but a £47 million deal for Lamine Camara from Monaco fell through at the last minute. This has left Alonso short on options in the middle of the park, particularly after Moises Caicedo suffered an injury during the win over Fulham and had to leave the match just 11 minutes later in the game against Brighton. Romeo Lavia has started both games so far this season, but concerns remain about his injury history. The Belgian has only started 17 Premier League matches since joining the club three years ago. Chelsea also have new recruit Valentin Barco and Jordan Henderson, who is close to full fitness, available as potential solutions. However, the club has been forced to use players in non-traditional roles to fill the gap. Reece James and Malo Gusto have been deployed in midfield roles this season, playing alongside Lavia in matches against Fulham and Brighton. However, former Chelsea player Gus Poyet has criticized this approach, warning that relying on right-backs to cover for midfield shortages is not ideal. Poyet, who played for the club for four years, explained that right-backs are not naturally suited to central midfield roles, as they are used to playing alongside the defensive line. In central midfield, players face pressure from all directions, a challenge not every player can handle. Poyet referenced Pep Guardiola's use of Philipp Lahm as a central midfielder at Bayern Munich, but emphasized that such a move requires a player of exceptional quality. He criticized Chelsea's current strategy, noting that the club has the financial resources to bring in new players but is instead relying on right-backs in midfield roles. His comments highlight concerns about the long-term sustainability of this approach as the season progresses.