Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel believes Enzo Fernandez is not a true leader and should leave the club if he would rather be at Real Madrid.
Fernandez made headlines recently by telling ESPN Argentina that he was not sure if his future beyond the end of this season would be at Stamford Bridge.
He then said in another interview, with LuzuTV, that if he could live in any city in the world, he would choose Madrid.
Those comments provoked an angry response from Chelsea's fanbase, particularly as the Blues have lost three of their last four Premier League games (one win), as many defeats as they suffered in their previous 18 (eight wins, seven draws, three defeats).
The Blues are now struggling to secure Champions League qualification for 2026-27, and they were thumped 8-2 on aggregate by Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of this season's tournament.
Chelsea have also failed to score in three consecutive games in all competitions for the first time since September 2023, attempting a total of 52 shots (16 on target) across these three matches (0-3 versus Everton, 0-3 versus PSG, 0-1 versus Newcastle United).
And by casting doubt on his future amid a difficult period for the club, Mikel believes Chelsea vice-captain Fernandez has shown himself to be a poor leader.
"That's not a leader," Mikel said on his Obi One Podcast.
"That's something where if you have leaders, if you have leaders that players respect and look up to, you wouldn't come out and make those statements.
"You don't make that statement after we've been disgracefully dumped out of the Champions League, wearing the captain's armband.
"No player is bigger than the football club. If he's had enough, put your hands up and f*** off. And we move on.
"You cannot come out and say that it doesn't matter, with what is going on. You should be grateful you're playing at a club like Chelsea; because of the culture we built.
"I can understand a little bit of frustration, but you still have to respect the badge, you still have to respect the football club, you still have to respect the fans, because the fans are the ones who pay your wages."
Fernandez has made more appearances than any other Chelsea player since the end of their successful Club World Cup campaign (46), recording 18 goals involvements in that time (12 goals, six goals).
Only Joao Pedro, with 18 goals and six assists, has registered more goals or overall goal contributions than the Argentine for the Blues this season.
Chelsea take on Port Vale in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, before their return to Premier League action pits them against Manchester City on April 12.
Jeaadeiosz
1
Everyone is busy talking about Enzo,but you people have forgotten that the player is saying the truth,He can't be in club that is playing with different coaches every season,is unfair
Wiccdeikst
2
caisedo will be the new Chelsea captain
mawaceouy
1
just let the coach go,his useless reason why players have started thinking of leaving chelsea
Titbkmpuz
2
It's obviously obvious that Chelsea is not well directed by this silly owners, Enzo is not the problem rather the owners are, what I am aggigating for is that if he wants to.leave he can quietly tell the owners and not publicly say he wants Madrid. Cucurella did the same thing Enzo did by saying out what the owners are doing in a wrong way. I personally appreciate the show of displeasure but he spoiled the matter when He mentioned Madrid, it's a slap on face of the fans and he's made more enemies than friends now.
Maubcptuyz
0
I'm now seeing comments that makes me feel good I don't know why most people are blaming Enzo though he crossed the red line of the club's culture but.....he is just stating the fact. BLUECO OUT......WE NEED OUR CHELSEA BACK
😂😂😂
wazblostu
0
Fire the coach and leave the good boy alone,dilutional fan base
I'm now seeing comments that makes me feel good I don't know why most people are blaming Enzo though he crossed the red line of the club's culture but.....he is just stating the fact. BLUECO OUT......WE NEED OUR CHELSEA BACK
daaklruyz
2
Enzo spoke unbehalf of us the Chelsea supporter's about his frustration with the board not exactly his colleagues.
Mezdkmsyz
0
This team will beat real madrid
[image]
Same team couldn’t beat new castle you’re here thinking of Real Madrid 🫣
wusaknpsu
3
enzo is the beast just fire the silly coach
liabklnru
0
Y'all don't even realise that the players ain't happy with what's going on at the club. Just few are speaking up and instead of pushing the blames on the silly owners, y'all are criticising Enzo. Cucurella made his own statement but y'all only noticed Enzo. That guy gives his all in that team, he's passionate about winning
It doesn't justify anything but when someone who loves winning goes to a certain team because he wants to keep winning,and all of a sudden the owner of the club starts making it look like they don't offer a winning platform, I promise you'd want to move on
ChelseaFan321
1
I actually don't like this Ego Player
Vukdeity
0
Let him leave for free, coz we have players better than him
What about the 120mil we spent on him 😂
AFerLCAL8407
0
Y'all don't even realise that the players ain't happy with what's going on at the club. Just few are speaking up and instead of pushing the blames on the silly owners, y'all are criticising Enzo. Cucurella made his own statement but y'all only noticed Enzo. That guy gives his all in that team, he's passionate about winning
So does that justifies Enzo’s bullshit, his a daft
fatbikorst
0
worst signing
Maubcptuyz
3
Fire the coach and leave the good boy alone,dilutional fan base
hepbprtuz
2
who is Enzo? please leave my club now
popacioprt
2
Chelsea is struggling because they don't have experienced coach and players, even GK sef
ScottyC
1
wow you Chelsea supporters are something.
ScottyC
1
Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and other players who are willing to go please show them the door 🚪 Chelsea is struggling simply because the 2 idiots have no heart for the club
seriously there struggling because of two players what a joke.
social3727
0
make ur research bfr u spill out rubbish
Oga you are the one spilling rubbish with your lack of understanding. Mikel obi scored only one premier league goal and that goal was against fulham on 21st September 2013 and I didn't say his whole Chelsea career, I only said in the premier league, even his total of 6 goals in his 249 games for Chelsea as a midfielder is a shame let him keep quite
Tomckmtyz
0
nah you can't even compare both of those statements, Enzo has been twerking from them since this int'l break throughout
Is Chelsea bigger than Madrid even rodri who has won all is twerking for them why won't someone who hasn't won any significant thing not twerk for Madrid
Tomckmtyz
0
Let him leave for free, coz we have players better than him
Like who??
Tomckmtyz
0
This team will beat real madrid
[image]
They should beat everton first
ElifasBonnie
0
the best one
ElifasBonnie
1
remember what he said to the black players he is nonsense he is not a leader
Cisabeiklu
0
To talk is very simple, imagine scoring only one goal in his whole Chelsea premier league career 🤤
make ur research bfr u spill out rubbish
Vizdnstuyz
1
Enzo no get sense because of him they change palmer his position pls let him go now now
Eriland
0
Eriland
0
Eriland
2
Eriland
2
This team will beat real madrid
Eriland
0
Let him leave for free, coz we have players better than him
voebeipsuy
0
He should f***k off if he wants to leave
He wants to leave trash chelates
voebeipsuy
0
He should f***k off if he wants to leave
Cry more
Eriland
0
He is a flop Since chelsea signed him
liabklnru
3
Y'all don't even realise that the players ain't happy with what's going on at the club. Just few are speaking up and instead of pushing the blames on the silly owners, y'all are criticising Enzo. Cucurella made his own statement but y'all only noticed Enzo. That guy gives his all in that team, he's passionate about winning
Andy220
0
Is he the only one who is talking.. Cucu did his and also Palmer but u are just talking about his… isn’t it true Sacking of Enzo Maresca made them look bad
nah you can't even compare both of those statements, Enzo has been twerking from them since this int'l break throughout
franckmukalenge
0
This chap Fernandez has always been average since he came to Chelsea and if Madrid sign him he will be a big FLOP!😂
Richcapone442
0
Is he the only one who is talking.. Cucu did his and also Palmer but u are just talking about his… isn’t it true Sacking of Enzo Maresca made them look bad
Ripcdmopyz
2
you were not a better player than Enzo so fuckoff you talk too much
agreed, John obi mikel always talking like he was a top player when in actual FACT he was bang fucking average,and very shit most times,don't mind the stupid dumbass chelsea fans
yeoclmosy
2
who is Mikel Obi?
Luebeikno
1
let him go we are chelsea not player
Siucdouy
3
@reyabdlnuz..You are an idiot and I doubt you are a chelsea fan. What Mikel said is the truth if the guy doesn't want to be at chelsea just leave. Don't disrespect the club. Nuff said hats off to Mikel.
social3727
4
To talk is very simple, imagine scoring only one goal in his whole Chelsea premier league career 🤤
Amine_Ermac
0
Are u minding some of this gas that think with their nose.
You are absolutely correct. I should’ve ignored his comment.
Suyabkns
2
he must f**k off what special he is, we where having experience and quality player all they gone but chelsea still standing
yimcknotz
2
What do you mean by World Cup winner? Did he win the World Cup singlehandedly? How many goals did he score at the World Cup? What has stopped from replicating the same form at Chelsea if he is such a good player?
hkck
2
Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and other players who are willing to go please show them the door 🚪 Chelsea is struggling simply because the 2 idiots have no heart for the club
Johnnti
2
He should f***k off if he wants to leave
Rinkachi2221
1
you were not a better player than Enzo so fuckoff you talk too much
A visitor just stated watching football and thinks that he knows everything about football..