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Enzo Le Fée: Rennes’ Midfield Maestro

May 30, 2024
Player Analysis, Ligue 1 Analysis

Club: Stade Rennais

Nationality: France

Position: CM, AM

Preferred Foot: Right

Height: 5’8”/173cm

Age: 24

Strengths: passing, dribbling, vision, tackling, shooting, football IQ

Areas for Development: box-entry & shot frequency, aerial duels

 

There’s something about up-and-coming midfielders and the name Enzo. Enzo Fernández (23) has followed up his World Cup victory with Argentina by moving to Chelsea for €121 million, Enzo Millot (21) has played a vital role in Stuttgart’s qualification to the UEFA Champions League, whilst Juventus loanee Enzo Barrenechea (22) is making waves on loan at Frosinone.

 

 

Over in France, Enzo Le Fée has emerged as one of the most technically gifted, intelligent midfielders in Ligue 1, and at 24, he’s only going to get better. His passing ability is excellent, especially in the final third and in tight spaces, and he has great vision and spatial awareness to play subtle, disguised passes and inch-perfect through balls for other attackers.



With 1.40 key passes (top 19%), 5.24 passes into the final third, 1.37 passes into the penalty area (top 13%) and 0.33 through balls (top 15%), the numbers really back this, but even more so with the eye test. His intelligence in and around the box allows for chances to be created with regularity.



Le Fée is an all-action 8, effective in all phases, one of those being the second phase where he’s a key figure in his team’s ball progression. The Frenchman is a forward-thinking midfielder, not just through progressive passing (6.24) but particularly progressive carries (2.70 – top 8%)

 

His dribbling is a joy to watch. With a controlled first touch, his agile style enables him to escape challenges with ease, and he particularly loves to carry the ball and take on players with 4.24 take-ons attempted (top 1%), 1.87 of them being successful (top 4%).

 



He drives forward with purpose from deep to progress the ball into more advanced areas where he can hurt defences. 2.60 carries into the final third per 90 (top 6%) shows the intention he has when he dribbles, capable of invading the opposition’s space through both his carrying and dribbling.

 

Despite his smaller stature, the Rennes midfielder is aggressive in duels. He rides challenges well when carrying the ball and shields the ball with his body, and his tight turning radius makes him tricky to win the ball off. When in possession, this agility, quick feet and two-way dribbling makes him very press resistant and he’s able to hold onto the ball and eat up space in transition.

 

Enzo’s off the ball work rate is top quality — in particular, his tackling. Although he thrives in the final third and transitional play, he loves to tackle. A defensively active player who makes 2.90 tackles per 90 (top 11%), this work rate out of possession is what makes him such a complete #8. In every phase of the game, Le Fée is right there at the centre, either making things happen or stopping the opponent from doing so.



In the final third, Le Fée has demonstrated excellent shooting technique and ability. He strikes the ball with minimal backlift, allowing him to get shots off quickly. In fact, a lot of his goals have actually been first-time shots. The Frenchman can shoot with accurate precision from both feet and has a good goal catalogue.

 

 

If there’s one area he must work on, it’s his shot volume — just 1.07 per 90 (56th percentile) — and with 0 goals and 5 assists in 33 appearances across all competitions in his maiden Rennes campaign, it’s clear he needs to work on his end product. He needs to both shoot more and box-crash more often. Any time he’s in and around the box he’s a deadly attacker who’s a goal threat, but he’s just not there enough.



The ability is there, but the past two seasons he’s played for two mid-upper table teams but never a possession-based or more dominant team, so he has to do a lot more off-the-ball work and has fewer chances to work with and show off his prowess in the attacking phase. Aerial duels are another area where Le Fée could improve. He’s only won 35.3% of aerial duels, but if he can increase his leg explosiveness, he’ll be able to compensate for his 5’8″ frame and improve his verticality and aerial duels.

 

It has been a disappointing campaign for Rennes, who have finished outside the top six for the first time in five years and missed out on European football, and they could be forced to part ways with 18-year-old Désiré Doué, who is attracting attention from some of the biggest sides on the continent. However, with a young core featuring Arthur Theate (23), Amine Gouiri (24), Arnaud Kalimuendo (22) and Enzo Le Fée, there’s reason to believe that the Bretons can bounce back in 2024/25.

 

By: Ben Mattinson / @Ben_Mattinson_

Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Icon Sport

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