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Enzo Maresca has revealed that Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez won't face any further issues when he returns to the club. It comes in the wake of the player facing severe backlash following an alleged racist video that surfaced online.
The Argentine midfielder was allegedly seen chanting to a 'discriminatory song' while on the national team bus, alongside a couple of Albiceleste players.
This was in the wake of Argentina winning the just concluded 2024 Copa America tournament, which happens to be their 16th in total.
Fernandez, meanwhile, has faced a lot of backlash, from both fans and even his own teammates, notably Wesley Fofana, as the chant is said to have been a dig at the French national team.
Head coach of Chelsea Maresca has now come out to reveal that the incident won't affect Fernandez when he joins the Blues' squad for their ongoing pre-season in the US.
The Italian tactician stated that Fernandez has already issued an apology as well as Chelsea, and as such, he expects everything to be quite clear by now.
In an interview via Sport Bible, he said:
"I think it’s quite easy in terms of the player did a statement apologising, the club did the same. I don’t think there’s something to add in terms of this situation, it’s already clear and clarified.”
When quizzed on whether he sees Fernandez facing any problems with his teammates when he reunites with the Chelsea squad ahead of the new season, Maresca said:
"I don’t think so, to be honest. "In the end they are all human beings. I don’t think there is any bad intention from any one of them. So, I don’t think when Enzo comes back, we’ll have any kind of problem.
"As I said, the player already clarified the situation, the club did the same, there is nothing to add and once again, I think they are not bad persons or human beings, it can happen, but I don’t think it’s any problem at all."
He concluded:
"I spoke with Enzo, I spoke with all of them, as I said, the player already did a statement apologising, so it’s quite clear.”
Chelsea captain weighs in on Enzo Fernandez's racist chants video saga
Chelsea skipper Reece James has reacted to the controversy surrounding his teammate Enzo Fernandez, following a discriminatory video that surfaced online.
Fernandez was captured singing to the song that was branded as 'racist and discriminatory' by the French football association alongside a couple of Albiceleste stars.
Meanwhile, club captain James has revealed that although the situation is a bit difficult, he doesn't expect it to cause a big upset among the team, as Fernandez has already issued an apology.
In his words via an interview via Sportsbible, he said:
"It’s obviously a really difficult situation," he said. "I think Enzo acknowledged he did wrong and quickly put his hand up and apologised to the club, the team and the people offended."
He contuinued:
"He hasn’t arrived yet, so I don’t know if there’s anything to amend. I’ll have to make that judgement when he comes back in. But I hope everyone will be on the same page and can kind of move forward from this situation."
