Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has voiced strong criticism against the club’s leadership following Enzo Maresca’s departure, revealing that the move deeply affected the squad.
Maresca’s Sudden Exit
Maresca stepped down from his role at Stamford Bridge at the start of 2026, shortly after guiding Chelsea to victory in the inaugural Club World Cup last summer. Tensions arose from disagreements with owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, particularly over the failure to sign a new central defender after Levi Colwill suffered a long-term ACL injury. The Italian coach felt unsupported by the board during the early season, leading to his exit and the appointment of Liam Rosenior from Strasbourg as the new head coach.
Impact on the Squad
Speaking after Chelsea’s 8-2 aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain that eliminated them from the Champions League, Fernandez addressed Maresca’s departure in an interview with Mexican broadcaster TUDN.
‘I don’t understand it either,’ he said. ‘Sometimes there are things that we as players don’t understand, how and in what way they try to manage things.’
He added: ‘Obviously, it was a departure that hurt us a lot because we had an identity. He gave us an order, even though, as is the way of football, sometimes it’s good and bad. But he always had a very clear identity when it came to training and playing, and obviously his departure hurt us a lot, especially in the middle of the season, it cuts everything short.’
Chelsea’s Struggles Under Rosenior
The team has faltered recently under Rosenior, dropping to sixth in the Premier League with only one win in their last five matches. This poor run has intensified scrutiny on the club’s direction.
Fernandez Questions His Future
In a separate interview with ESPN Argentina, the World Cup winner expressed uncertainty about his long-term commitment to Chelsea. Asked if he would stay beyond the season, Fernandez replied: ‘I don’t know, I don’t know. There are eight games left and the FA Cup. There’s the World Cup and then we’ll see.’
