The Argentina international spoke openly for the first time about Enzo Maresca's departure, admitting the players were left hurt by the manager's exit
Enzo Fernandez
Enzo Fernandez says Chelsea had a clear identity under Maresca
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Enzo Fernandez has revealed that Enzo Maresca's departure from Chelsea hurt the players, while suggesting many of them don't understand the way decisions are made in football. The Italian coach left the club at the start of the year and was later replaced by Liam Rosenior.
Maresca's final game as Chelsea head coach was a 2-2 Premier League draw with Bournemouth, which also happened to be the club's last fixture of 2025. Maresca departed Chelsea amid persistent speculation linking him with the Manchester City job, with reports suggesting he was being considered as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola.
Speaking after Chelsea's heavy 8-2 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint‑Germain, Fernandez addressed Maresca's exit for the first time in an interview with Argentinian media. Journalist Juan Pablo Sorin asked him what had happened before, during and after the manager's departure.
"I don't understand it [what happened]," he said. "Sometimes as a player, there's things we don't understand and the way they try to manage things. I don't have an answer for you because I don't know.
"Obviously, it was a departure that hurt a lot because we had a lot of identity, he gave us order but it's the way that football is, sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad.
"But we always had a clear identity when it came to training, playing and obviously his departure hurt us especially in the middle of the season - it cuts everything short."
On the same night, the Argentine, who captained the side, also dropped a bombshell about his future, saying 'we'll see' what happens after the World Cup.
Speaking to ESPN Argentina, Fernandez said: "I don’t know, there are eight games left and the FA Cup. There’s the World Cup and then we'll see."
Fernandez's remarks have left supporters wondering whether there was a deeper meaning behind them.
One fan said: "Seems like jabs at Rosenior, Chelsea are so finished man," before another added: "Why would he even say this as a vice captain under a new manager."
A third continued: "This is surely one small step closer to his exit. really really sad to see," and a fourth questioned: "How is it worse ? If by now you don't know what he said is truth then you know nothing and you're not a Chelsea fan."
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