Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has defended his decision to give Enzo Fernández the captain's armband during Chelsea's preseason friendly with Real Madrid, citing the midfielder's respect within the squad. Despite a recent racist scandal involving Fernández following his Copa América win with Argentina, Maresca emphasized that the player had no bad intentions.
Fernández, 23, captained Chelsea in the second half of their match against Real Madrid, taking over from Reece James. This move came after Fernández was involved in a controversy where he posted a video of himself and other players singing a racist and derogatory chant about the heritage of some France players during Argentina's Copa América celebrations.
Chelsea teammate Wesley Fofana condemned the video as 'uninhibited racism,' prompting the club to issue a statement denouncing Fernández's actions. Despite the backlash, Fernández issued an apology for his behavior.
Maresca explained his decision to give Fernández the captain's armband by highlighting the player's importance to the team and the respect he commands among his peers. The manager expressed confidence that team spirit would not be affected by the fallout from Fernández's controversy, noting that the player had already apologized and the club had addressed the issue.
Looking ahead, Chelsea is set to face Inter Milan in their final preseason friendly before kicking off the 2024-25 Premier League season against Manchester City. The team will aim to focus on their preparations for the upcoming campaign despite the recent off-field distractions surrounding Fernández.
