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The Chelsea head coach and club captain have addressed the recent controversy surrounding star midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is confident the squad will move past the recent controversy surrounding midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
Fernandez sparked outrage after livestreaming an offensive song following Argentina's Copa America win against Colombia on July 15. Teammate Wesley Fofana accused Fernandez of "uninhibited racism," prompting a public apology from the midfielder.
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He also reached out to his teammates directly and Chelsea launched an internal disciplinary process to address the incident.
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09:13 - 17.07.2024
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12:57 - 21.07.2024
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Former Chelsea star has advised the Blues to sell midfielder Enzo Fernandez after his racial display during Argentina's Copa America celebration.
What Maresca said
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Despite the controversy, Maresca believes the team will remain united. The Blues head coach emphasises that players are human and did not have malicious intent.
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“I don’t think so to be honest. At the end, they are all human beings,” said the Chelsea head coach. “There is no bad intention from any one of them.
“I don’t think when Enzo is back, we will have any problems. The player and club clarified the situation.
“It’s great the player did the statement to apologise. The club did the same. There is not something to add to the situation. It’s clear and clarified.”
Furthermore, Chelsea captain Reece James acknowledged the difficulty of the situation but appreciated Fernandez's quick apology.
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“It’s obviously a really difficult situation. I think Enzo (Fernandez) quickly acknowledged he did wrong, put his hand up and apologised to the club, the team and the people offended,” said the Blues right-back.
“I have spoken to Enzo and everyone involved but those conversations have to stay in-house. He hasn’t arrived yet so I don’t know if there is anything to amend. I hope everyone will be on the same page and we can move on from the situation.”
What comes next?
Chelsea are currently on tour in the United States as they continue preparations for the 2024-25 Premier League campaign. The Blues play Wrexham at Levi's Stadium on July 25.
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