Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has criticised the club's hierarchy for their role in Enzo Maresca's exit, admitting the departure 'hurt' the squad a great deal.
The Blues, who crashed out of the Champions League after a humbling 8-2 aggregate defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, have struggled under new head coach Liam Rosenior of late, slipping to sixth in the Premier League with just one win in their last five matches.
Maresca, just months after winning the inaugural Club World Cup with Chelsea last summer, left Stamford Bridge at the start of 2026 following disagreements with the board, paving the way for the appointment of Rosenior from Strasbourg.
The Italian coach clashed with owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital over their failure to recruit a new central defender last summer following Levi Colwill’s long-term ACL injury, and the relationship continued to deteriorate as Maresca felt he did not have the board’s full support during the early months of the season.
Speaking in the wake of Chelsea's dismal Champions League exit, Fernandez spoke to Mexican broadcaster TUDN about Maresca's exit and how it had a damaging effect on the squad.
‘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.
‘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.’
The World Cup winner also expressed doubt over his long-term future at Stamford Bridge in a separate interview with ESPN Argentina.
Asked whether he could commit to the Blues beyond the end of the season, he said: '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.’
Yuwabilnr
0
THIS CHELSEA BOARD HAS BROUGHT INSTABILITY TO THE CLUB BY THEIR REFUSAL TO SIGN AN EXPERIENCED DEFENDER & A GOALKEEPER FOR MARESCA PROMPTING HIM TO LEAVE B4 THE 2 SECOND ROUND OF THIS ONGOING SEASON BEGUN. MARESCA & MANY OF WE THE FANS SAW WHAT IS NOW UNFOLDING COMING BECAUSE CHALOBAH IS THE ONLY RELIABLE CENTRAL DEF WE HAVE FOLLOWING COLWIL'S LONG INJURY. LIKEWISE A RELIABLE GK WAS NEEDED TOO BUT THESE OWNERS TURNED BLIND EYES WHICH IS SERIOUSLY HURTING US. WHAT IS THE ASSURANCE WE WILL MAKE TOP 6 WITH INJURIES OF SOME PLAYERS, LACK OF CONFIDENCE, DOWN OF PLAYERS' MORALES & INEPTITUDE OF MANAGERIAL SKILLS OF THE COACH . LET'S JUST WAIT AND SEE WHAT APPROACH THE OWNERS HAVE TO PUT THINGS IN ORDER COME NEXT SEASON..
jopabinptu
0
the team should start getting defenz in order as well as the stricker .then we could have a change .
Sibabcmnrs
1
Chelsea board is bullshit they must this great club to someone else who is capable of management
Ssemakulajr
0
am enjoying the comments
MaasaiOleKenya
1
Enzo Fernandes should come out clearly and unequivocally and declare:" Mr.Liam Rosenior, you are a BIG FOOL FOR PLAYING ME AS A WINGER so that you can accommodate your Strasbourg favorite, Andrey Santos in Midfield".😡😠😡😠😡😠😡😠😡😠
jayaeortz
0
You are in a battle field with yiur coach
Lewaorsty
0
yuwabilnr, you are hitting the nail right on the head, I totally agrees with you. kudos my brother.
Bazalmosz
3
AS BENFICA FAN STIL REMEMBER HOW YOU DO LEFT THE CLUB, IT SEEMS LIKE CHELSEA WILL WHATCH IDENTICAL DRAMA.
Bazalmosz
2
PLAYERS HAS THEIR LIMITS, I DON'T THINK THIS ONE WAS THE CASE. ENZO WENT TOO FAR.
Sebabdiouz
0
Why is Liam Rosenior being compared with Michael Jackson the late pop singer? What are the similarities?
Sebabdiouz
4
As I said, it's not a question of any Chelsea player thinking that he is bigger than Chelsea fc. Those days players play football under INCOMPETENT HEAD COACHES are gone forever.Every good football player wants or deserves to have his knowledge of the game enriched and improved by TRULY COMPETENT HEAD COACHES. So Enzo Fernandez MUST SPEAK OUT when he sees INCOMPETENCE like what Coach Liam Rosenior is currently displaying in Chelsea.Kudos to Enzo Fernandez!
mani2017
3
Even though I didn’t like Maresca’s players selection sometimes and blamed him for not having enough options at the back bcos he allowed players like Disasi to leave and kept Badiashile, Chelsea owners were wrong in axing him for this Rosenoir. Maresca won 2 trophies while playing good football so he definitely knew his job and should have at least completed the season. Rosenoir upon checking his profile and achievement before being appointed was evident he was nowhere close to the coach Chelsea needs.
yeeceprtz
2
You were all calling for him to be sacked including the fans every week stop being hypocrites you idiots
Yuwabilnr
1
AS A DIE HARD FOLLOWER OF CHELSEA I'M ENJOYING WHAT IS UNFOLDING AT THE CLUB BCOS THE NEW BOARD BELIEVES THEY KNOW EVERYTHING WHEREAS THE OPPOSITE IS THE CASE.THEY DON'T KNOW THE DAMAGE THEY'VE BROUGHT TO THE CLUB FOR REFUSING TO SIGN AN EXPERIENCED DEENDER & 1 RELIABLE GK FOR MARESCA IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CLUB WORLD CUP TRIUMPH. TO WORSEN ISSUES THEY BROUGHT IN AN INEXPERIENCED COACH ON A 6YRS CONTRACT. MY THINKING IS THIS NEW BOARD DON'T WANT A COACH THAT CANNOT BE CONTROLLED . COACHES LIKE ANCELOTTI, PEP, MOURHINHO, SIMEONI ETC DICTATE TO CLUBS WHO & WHO THEY WANT. YOU DON'T FORCE PLAYERS ON THEM ELSE THEY LEAVE & GET PAID SEVERANCE PACKAGE. LIKE I SAID EARLIER CHELSEA WOULD HAVE BECOME GREAT & POSSIBLY AT LEAST 3RD ON THE TABLE RIGHT FROM THE CWC VICTORY IF THE RIGHT THING WAS DONE. AS THINGS ARE I DOUBT IF WE MAKE TOP 7. WE'RE STILL WATCHING & LAUGHING HOW EVENTS ARE UNFOLDING .
Barongagz02
0
We don’t even know what we are doing under this Michael Jackson. He likes to use only one winger scallop the LB to overlap, thereby leaving space behind for opponent to attack. He is a very very clueless coach and we can’t make top4 with him at the helm.
midestivah
1
He is right,it will only be getting worse for Chelsea from the owners decision,they are clueless,theirs is just business and nothing else
Ruecekopr
0
some journalist self
teebaby
0
it means that he doesn't believe in current Chelsea coach
Maabdkosz
0
if you don't want to change the lineup for Andrew Santos out from starting lineup and replace ganacho and estavao you are on the way of sacking, back up where you came from.be ready with your tools before you go anywhere.
misabcdenp
0
He said the truth
sky-bee
1
how does he criticised the owner here in is statemen...
Marcusfadaka
0
Enzo ah in front resonion 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
nopaciptuz
0
throw this Liam Rosenior.......not fit enough even to coach a third division team
Hikcdeiot
1
Enzo Fernandez is not bigger than Chelsea
Hikcdeiot
0
let him go