Chelsea have attempted to move on from the Enzo Fernandez race row by reintegrating him into the squad. While the players have publicly shown unity and forgiveness towards Fernandez, the fallout from the incident suggests that a quick resolution is unlikely. However, new manager Enzo Maresca has made efforts to keep team morale high. The squad recently enjoyed a sushi night in Atlanta, where they are currently training. The club has also completed an internal investigation, with Fernandez’s donation to an anti-discrimination charity seen as a fine. FIFA is still investigating the video of the racist chant, which could result in an FA ban and a legal complaint from the French Football Association.
Maresca insists that the Chelsea camp is happy and that the team has moved on after clear-the-air talks with Fernandez. The midfielder filmed himself and his Argentina teammates singing a racist chant about France’s black players during Copa America celebrations. Maresca, along with captain Reece James and French players Wesley Fofana and Axel Disasi, met with Fernandez before he apologized to the entire team. Fofana had previously condemned Fernandez’s “uninhibited racism” but has since deleted his social media post. The club concluded its own investigation, and Fernandez made a donation to an anti-discrimination charity, which Chelsea will match.
Maresca believes that the team has accepted Fernandez’s apology and that they are back to normal. He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging mistakes and apologizing for them. While there may have been initial tension during the first training session, Maresca expected it and is pleased with the positive atmosphere since then. He attributes any negative reactions to the initial shock of the incident but believes that with time, understanding and forgiveness will prevail.
The situation surrounding Fernandez’s racist chant is not something that will be easily forgotten. Maresca was faced with a difficult situation early in his tenure as manager, but he handled it well by addressing the issue directly. However, he must remain vigilant in order to prevent any further incidents from occurring. The hope is that once the Premier League season starts, the focus will shift away from the incident and towards the team’s performance on the field. However, a poor start to the season could easily reopen old wounds and create divisions within the team.
Overall, Maresca has passed his initial test as Chelsea manager by effectively managing the crisis. However, there may still be lingering doubts about Fernandez’s reception among teammates, Chelsea fans, and rival supporters. It remains to be seen how warmly he will be welcomed back and whether the incident will continue to be a source of contention throughout the season. Chelsea and Maresca will be hoping that the issue can be put to rest and that it will not overshadow the team’s performance moving forward.