Enzo Mareca gives real reason for Enzo Fernandez snub as Chelsea star in exile

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has revealed why the club’s £107million man Enzo Fernandez is currently out of the starting XI. The Argentinian has not started a Premier League game since the 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest on October 6, with his opportunities limited to Europa Conference League matches.

He was given a rare chance to play from the start in the midweek, but failed to impress in the 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat at Newcastle.

During the clash, Maresca was seen angrily remonstrating with the midfielder after a stray pass, and was forced to deny afterwards that there had been a fallout between the pair.

However, tellingly, he also cited the absence of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia in midfield as the primary reason for his team struggling at St James’ Park. It was Renato Veiga who partnered Fernandez in their place, as the visitors failed to assert any kind of control over the 90 minutes.

The Blues face Manchester United this afternoon, and as expected the Italian has restored both Caicedo and Lavia to the starting line-up. Fernandez is amongst the substitutes. 

But ahead of the game at Old Trafford, Maresca claimed he currently had no issue with the attitude or form of the 2022 World Cup winner. Instead, he insisted his latest selection was purely tactical.

“At this moment, Enzo Fernandez is not playing, but there is no problem,” he said. “He is doing well in the time we are giving him chances. The only reason he is not playing is just because the physicality I prefer is from Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.”

Caicedo surpassed Fernandez as Chelsea’s record signing when he arrived from Brighton for £115m in the summer of 2023. Lavia followed days later in a £58m deal from Southampton, with both players failing to justify their respective fees in their debut season at Stamford Bridge.

In the 2024/25 campaign though, the Ecuadorian international has shown the form that made him so sought after by Liverpool before he opted to head to London. Lavia meanwhile, is also now flourishing after an injury plagued 14 months since his move.

The Belgian made just one appearance in 2023/24, after picking up ankle and thigh injuries. He finally started a league game against Manchester City in August, but despite performing well, was then ruled out for four weeks with a hamstring strain.

His recent return has appeared to add more balance to the Chelsea midfield though. Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, and Pedro Neto will play in front of the duo at United, with Nicolas Jackson again being deployed as the lone striker.