Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea in action during the Premier League match against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge, London, on April 1, 2023. Photo: Getty Images.
In Summary:
- Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca chose Enzo Fernandez as captain for their Premier League opener, despite recent controversy.
- Fernandez faced criticism for a racist chant incident but remains respected by his teammates, according to Maresca.
Chelsea’s manager Enzo Maresca has explained his decision to appoint Enzo Fernandez as captain for their first Premier League match against Manchester City, which ended in a 2-0 defeat for Chelsea.
The choice raised eyebrows due to a recent controversy involving Fernandez. During the off-season, the 23-year-old Argentine midfielder was involved in a racist incident where he filmed himself singing a derogatory song about the French national team after Argentina’s 2024 Copa America victory.
This led to widespread criticism and subsequent apologies from Fernandez to the public and his teammates.
Why is Argentinian footballer Enzo Fernandez at the centre of a racism scandal?
— BBC News Africa (@BBCAfrica) July 17, 2024
Chelsea FC have begun disciplinary proceedings against their midfielder after he posted a video online that the French Football Federation said included an alleged "racist and discriminatory" chant. pic.twitter.com/4bhNutYuQx
Despite this incident, Maresca defended his decision, stating that Fernandez remains a respected figure among his peers.
“I see Enzo as one of the leaders of this team,” Maresca explained, highlighting that Fernandez’s influence on his teammates was a key factor in the decision.
“But I noticed that his teammates look up to him, they recognise his influence, and that’s why he was given the armband.
“He had already shown leadership during pre-season when he shared the captaincy with Reece.”
Maresca acknowledged that while Fernandez made a mistake, he has taken responsibility for his actions and learned from the experience.
The manager emphasized the importance of moving forward and maintaining Fernandez’s leadership role both on and off the pitch.
With club captain Reece James currently sidelined due to injury, there’s a possibility that Fernandez could continue his captaincy role in Chelsea’s upcoming UEFA Conference League match against Servette on August 22.