Chelsea’s manager, Enzo Maresca, has expressed unwavering support for midfielder Enzo Fernandez, despite recent decisions to bench the Argentine star.
Fernandez, who was signed for a substantial fee of £106.8 million, was left out of the starting XI in Chelsea’s 2-1 Premier League loss to Liverpool on October 20.
Since then, he has mainly featured in Chelsea’s so-called ‘cup squad,’ which Maresca uses for matches in the Conference League and Carabao Cup.
During Chelsea’s recent 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle United, Maresca appeared visibly frustrated with Fernandez following a misplaced pass.
However, when asked about this incident in a press conference on Friday, the Chelsea coach downplayed it, claiming he could not recall the moment.
He explained, “I showed frustration with Enzo? I show frustration with all of them.
Don’t only look at Enzo. I still trust Enzo; there is not one reason in the world to lose confidence in him.”
Maresca emphasized that his recent choices to bench Fernandez do not indicate a loss of trust.
He reiterated, “The reason why he is not playing in the Premier League is because, at this moment, I take different decisions. But my confidence is 100% with Enzo.”
He was also asked whether this move signals that Fernandez is no longer a guaranteed starter.
The Chelsea manager reaffirmed his faith in the player, stressing that decisions are made based on various factors rather than doubts about individual talent.
The manager explained his approach to team selection, stating, “I like to say that we don’t have an ‘A team’ or a ‘B team.’
There are players that are fantastic, but for me, we don’t have indispensable players.”
He illustrated this by saying, “If Cole [Palmer], for whatever reason, is not playing, then we have Joao [Felix].
If Nico [Jackson] is not playing, we have Christo [Nkunku].”
This, he noted, underscores Chelsea’s depth and the flexibility within the squad.
Maresca explained that lineup changes reflect his belief in the quality of all his players and not a lack of trust in any single one.
He added, “Some of them, for sure, are better than the rest, but it doesn’t mean they are always going to play.”
Addressing Fernandez’s specific situation, Maresca pointed out that it’s a matter of balancing the team’s dynamics.
He said, “In this moment, Romeo [Lavia] and Moi [Caicedo] provide us with physicality and strength in the middle, which is crucial.
This is the reason we opted for using Malo [Gusto] in the pocket during some matches.”
He elaborated that when Fernandez plays alongside certain midfield combinations, it may affect the team’s physical presence, which can be challenging in specific games.
However, Maresca was quick to mention that Fernandez’s absence from recent starting lineups doesn’t mean he won’t be featured in upcoming matches.
“It’s very simple; he is not playing at this moment, but we have so many games in the future.
He is not playing, but it doesn’t mean he won’t play tomorrow or in the next matches.”
He clarified that the choice of players depends on the game plan and the tactical needs of each match.
Maresca hinted at the possibility of trying different combinations in the near future.
“First of all, it is a matter of balance. It doesn’t mean we can’t play with Cole and Joao in the pocket together.
The game plan always dictates different strategies,” he stated.
This approach highlights the manager’s commitment to tactical flexibility and maintaining squad harmony while making the most of Chelsea’s deep roster.
