Chelsea bombshell! Enzo Fernandez LASHES OUT at Blues and Maresca

Tom Weber

Updated: 26 Jun 2024 18:08 BST
3 min read

Enzo Fernandez has hit out at Chelsea for not allowing him to feature at the Olympics.

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The Argentine midfielder is currently at the Copa America after recovering from an injury that saw him miss the run-in of the Premier League season.

Fernandez's absence coincided with a very good run of form from Chelsea and some saw this as proof that the Blues are perhaps better off without their erstwhile record signing.

Then-coach Mauricio Pochettino struggled to find a way to get both his compatriot and new record arrival Moises Caicedo to perform at their best level when playing together and this also gave rise to transfer speculation surrounding Fernandez's future.

Chelsea now have a new man in the dugout in Enzo Maresca, though the relationship between the Italian and Fernandez appears to already be strained.

Fernandez fumes over Olympic snub

Speaking to the media after Argentina beat Chile 1-0, Fernandez aired his frustration at the fact that Chelsea have reneged on their original decision to allow the 23-year-old to feature at this summer's Olympics in Paris following the appointment of Maresca.

"I did everything possible," Fernadez said. "Mauricio [Pochettino] was at Chelsea before, he had given me the OK. Then, there was a change of coach and the club changed their position. I tried, I kept talking, I did everything possible to be there, but it wasn't doable."

"I apologise to Masche [Olympic coach Javier Mascherano]. I wanted to be there. It won't happen. Hopefully, at another time I will be given the opportunity."

Fernandez also aimed a dig at his club when discussing his injury. He previously revealed that he had been playing in severe pain for several months before ultimately deciding to have surgery. Now, he has admitted that the club had wanted him to finish the season with his injury.

"I made the decision because I couldn't take it anymore. I was in a lot of pain, I was playing uncomfortable, I couldn't run. I had injections to be able to continue playing at Chelsea until I made the decision to have surgery."

"There were eight games left until the end of the season and I already wanted to have surgery. Chelsea didn't want me to because we were playing for important positions. Today I am here, I am very happy."

Read more about: Premier League, Chelsea, Enzo Fernandez