Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has explained why Enzo Fernandez has recently been left out of the club’s Premier League starting line-up, insisting the decision is purely tactical despite the midfielder’s personal challenges.
Fernandez, 23, has started Chelsea’s last two league games on the bench following his reported separation from long-time partner Valentina Cervantes, with whom he has two children.
The Argentina international has faced intense scrutiny since joining Chelsea from Benfica in a British record £107 million transfer in 2023. However, Maresca stressed that the pressure surrounding the midfielder goes beyond football and urged supporters to remember that players are human.
“There is no issue with Enzo,” Maresca said. “The expectations surrounding his £107 million transfer can be overwhelming, but we must remember that they are human beings.
If a club is willing to pay such an amount, that’s their responsibility, not the player’s. Being the best every game is an unrealistic expectation.
The Italian coach insisted Fernandez’s absence from the starting XI is down to his tactical preference for the midfield partnership of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, whose physical attributes better suit his current game plan.
At the moment, Enzo isn’t playing, but that isn’t indicative of any problems. It’s simply the physicality I prefer from Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia,
Maresca added.
Fernandez, who captained Chelsea earlier this season, has recently been limited to appearances in the Carabao Cup and UEFA Europa Conference League, while also making brief substitute outings in the Premier League.
His reduced role comes during a difficult period off the pitch following the end of his relationship with Cervantes. Despite the speculation, Maresca remains confident in the midfielder’s ability and insists he still has an important role to play for Chelsea this season.
