Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca recently stood by his choice to appoint midfielder Enzo Fernandez as captain for their first Premier League match, despite a video surfacing of Fernandez singing a racist chant during the offseason. The game ended in a 2-0 defeat against Manchester City, but post-game discussions were centered around Fernandez and Raheem Sterling, who voiced his displeasure at being omitted from the squad entirely. Fernandez led the team in place of the injured Reece James, despite facing criticism from teammate Wesley Fofana for the controversial video featuring him and other Argentina players singing about French players with African heritage.
Fofana, a French player who also played in the match, condemned the chant as “uninhibited racism,” leading to the French Football Federation filing a complaint with FIFA. Nevertheless, Maresca supported Fernandez, noting that he apologized to his teammates and acknowledged his error, emphasizing the need to move forward. Maresca defended his decision to make Fernandez captain by stating that his teammates view him as a leader, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and learning from past mistakes.
The match, like others in the Premier League opening weekend, began with all players taking a knee in solidarity against racism in soccer. Maresca addressed concerns raised by Sterling’s representatives regarding the player’s future at the club after being excluded from the matchday squad. Maresca clarified that Sterling’s absence was purely a technical decision and hinted at providing further clarification if necessary in the future. Despite bringing in nine new players during the offseason, none of Chelsea’s new recruits started the season opener, further intensifying competition within the squad.
This move by Maresca sheds light on the complexities surrounding issues of racism in football and the internal dynamics within the team as they navigate challenges both on and off the field.
