Enzo Maresca’s debut as Chelsea manager has been nothing short of chaotic. The Blues arrived in the US for their two-week pre-season tour, and Maresca already has multiple issues to address.
Stability has rarely been associated with Chelsea, who have a history of changing managers and players without hesitation. Maresca has overseen a familiarly tumultuous week at Stamford Bridge.
Initially, things looked promising, with players not involved in Euro 2024 or the Copa America returning to training early this month and quickly adapting to Maresca’s methods. However, the harmony was short-lived.
Enzo Maresca has endured a difficult start to life at Chelsea ahead of their first pre-season match
Fernandez filmed himself singing a ‘racist’ chant on Argentina’s bus during their Copa America celebrations
Wesley Fofana reposted the video via X alongside the words: ‘Football in 2024: uninhibited racism’
Malo Gusto (left) and Axel Disasi (right) joined Fofana in unfollowing Fernandez on Instagram
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez was filmed singing an offensive song on Argentina’s team bus, which has been branded ‘racist’ by the French Football Federation. The incident has sparked a backlash among his Chelsea teammates, with Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto, and Axel Disasi unfollowing him on Instagram.
Chelsea striker David Datro Fofana has called on football to take the fight against racism seriously, while Nicolas Jackson has defended Fernandez, highlighting a split in the dressing room.
Fernandez has since apologised for his actions and insisted he is not racist, but the damage has already been done. He could face a fine and a ban of up to 12 matches if the FA decides to investigate and punish him.
Chelsea striker David Datro Fofana called for the fight against racism to be taken ‘seriously’
But Fernandez has been defended by Nicolas Jackson, signalling a split in the dressing room
Maresca’s task of uniting the dressing room has been made more challenging by the decision to leave academy graduate Trevoh Chalobah back in the UK. Chalobah, who has been at Chelsea since he was nine, looks set to be the next homegrown player to leave the club.
Chelsea have a history of splashing out on big-money signings, but this has come at the expense of losing talented young players like Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Trevoh Chalobah has been left at home and looks set to leave Chelsea this summer
Maresca’s team faces a gruelling schedule in the US, with five matches in five cities over the next fortnight. They will face Wrexham, Celtic, Club America, Manchester City, and Real Madrid in their pre-season tour.
By the end of the tour, Maresca should have a better idea of how his team is shaping up ahead of their opening Premier League clash with Manchester City on August 18. But with the racism storm surrounding Fernandez and the potential exit of Chalobah, Maresca has a lot to overcome if he is to get Chelsea back on track.