“Chelsea’s Carabao Cup Run Ends in Frustration as Maresca Turns His Back on Fernandez Misstep”
Chelsea’s Carabao Cup campaign came to an abrupt halt at St. James’ Park on Wednesday, as Newcastle exacted revenge with a commanding performance, highlighting a series of issues for the Blues. The defining moment of the night wasn’t the final whistle, but rather the instant Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez lost possession, leading manager Enzo Maresca to visibly express his frustration.
Maresca, standing in his technical area, made no effort to hide his reaction when Fernandez’s risky pass was intercepted in midfield. The Argentine, who had dropped back to initiate a forward play, instead handed the ball straight to Newcastle, triggering an attack in Chelsea’s half. Maresca, seemingly fed up, turned his back on the play and headed toward the dugout – a gesture that did not go unnoticed by fans.
Chelsea supporters were quick to call out the incident online, speculating on Maresca’s mounting frustrations. “Maresca is even tired of Enzo Fernandez,” wrote one fan. Another chimed in, “If there is any meritocracy left in Maresca’s system, then Enzo Fernandez has emphatically played his way out of the team.”
The 2023 January signing, Fernandez, joined Chelsea for a record-breaking fee exceeding £100 million after impressing on the global stage at the World Cup. But despite the lofty price tag, Fernandez’s performances have oscillated, leaving fans and pundits alike questioning his consistency. His contribution has been more flash than substance, with standout moments scattered but infrequent.
Maresca, however, was careful to spread the responsibility around. Reflecting on the game, he admitted, “For ten minutes, we lost control, probably in that moment we needed more control. But it’s not only from Enzo, it’s general.” His words hinted at a broader issue in Chelsea’s play, beyond individual lapses.
The Italian manager made a full eleven changes for the match, opting for a completely refreshed starting lineup. He dismissed suggestions that this approach contributed to Chelsea’s defeat, even as he acknowledged room for improvement. “We need to get better at many things,” Maresca said. “We didn’t concede any chances from their pressing three days ago because we contacted not with the first line—on Sunday it was Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo, and tonight it was Renato Veiga, Enzo Fernandez, and Marc Cucurella—we always tried to contact with the second line because we know they are very aggressive.”
Despite some defensive resilience, Chelsea’s lack of fluidity ultimately cost them. Maresca admitted, “Two days ago, we did very well, and I think we did very well tonight apart from the goal we conceded. But for sure, we have many things we can do better.”
As Chelsea regroup, both the manager and his star midfielder, Fernandez, will need to address these persistent issues if the Blues hope to find consistency in their performances going forward.
