Chelsea
Fernández Remarks Escalate Dressing Room Friction at Chelsea
Comments by Enzo Fernández have reportedly strained Chelsea’s dressing room and prompted criticisms.
Enzo Fernández has become a focal point of unrest inside Chelsea following public comments about Real Madrid and his future.
Sources say prolonged contract talks stalled and a mid-March report from Argentina that the midfielder was open to leaving Chelsea intensified tensions. In the aftermath of Chelsea’s humiliating Champions League elimination, Fernández publicly refused to rule out an exit with the delightfully cryptic response of “we’ll see. ” He pledged his commitment to Chelsea just a few days later after a negative reaction from fans, but reports say he then resumed publicly flirting with Madrid.
Fernández has also questioned the decision to part ways with manager Enzo Maresca in January and, during the international break, is said to have twice mentioned a desire to live in the city of Madrid without naming any club. In an interview with LUZU TV in his native Argentina, Fernández name-dropped Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos as inspirations, a comment whose timing has been questioned inside the squad.
Those inside the dressing room have reportedly been disturbed by what they see as a player of significance casting doubt over his own future. The same reports add Fernández has grown more vocal during a run of defeats, openly berating teammates on the pitch and failing to hide his anger once the cameras are off.
A notable episode came after a mistake by goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen against Paris Saint-Germain, which drew an on-field outburst from Fernández. Former teammates, including Mason Mount and Noni Madueke, have been targeted by on-field taunts and hot-headed moments from Chelsea’s vice-captain. Several within the squad believe those incidents have done more to unsettle the club than the conduct of others.
Mikel John Obi addressed the situation on his Obi One Podcast and did not hold back: “That’s not a leader,” he fumed. “That’s something where if you have leaders, if you have leaders that players respect and look up to, you wouldn’t come out and make those statements because you’d be thinking, ‘How is this going to go down in the dressing room? How is this going to go down with the top players, the big players, when they see this?’
“You were the captain in that game and you come out and make those statements … how would that go down well with the senior players in the dressing room?
“He’s looked at it and he’s thinking, ‘Who the f— is going to hold me responsible in that dressing room?’ No one! The leadership is not there.
“So he thinks, ‘I can come out, say whatever the f— I want, no one is going to hold me responsible,’ and that’s exactly what happened.
“For him to come out and make such a statement after we’ve been disgracefully dumped out of the Champions League, and you come out after wearing the captain’s armband … no player is bigger than the football club.
“If he’s had enough, put your hands up, f— off and we move on. We move on. No player is bigger than the football club, especially a club as huge as Chelsea.”
Chelsea
Chelsea’s Controlled Win Over AC Milan Offers Early Alonso Clues
Chelsea beat AC Milan 3-0 in Jakarta, with Alonso’s 3-4-2-1, Palestra and set pieces standing out.
Chelsea resumed their preseason with a convincing 3-0 victory over AC Milan in Jakarta on Saturday, a result that offered a clearer glimpse of Xabi Alonso’s thinking as his first summer in charge develops.
The key stretch came immediately after the interval. Pedro finished from close range just 30 seconds into the second half to double the advantage, before Moisés Caicedo added a volley from a corner in the 50th minute to put the game beyond reach.
Overall, it was a composed display from Chelsea, who return to action in less than 24 hours against Malaysian outfit Johor Darul Ta’zim. More importantly, the match hinted at how Alonso may choose to shape his side. While a 4-2-3-1 has been used up to this point, this contest brought the first look at the 3-4-2-1 that brought him success at Bayer Leverkusen.
That system gave the attack a smoother edge in the first half, with Pedro, Cole Palmer and Danny Welbeck combining well. It also appeared to suit a back line built around three natural center backs, with Wesley Fofana, Jorrel Hato and Josh Acheampong all on the pitch together.
The setup also allowed Marco Palestra to underline why Chelsea moved for him this summer. Operating from the left side of midfield, he pushed forward constantly and drifted into central areas, showing the versatility that stood out during his signing.
On the opposite side, Pedro Neto started and contributed well, including the cross that helped create Chelsea’s second goal. Geovany Quenda later came on for Neto and linked up neatly with Palestra, reinforcing the range of options available if Alonso keeps this shape.
Acheampong was another clear beneficiary. Playing on the right of the back three against Rafael Leão, he delivered a strong performance, capped by an excellent first-half challenge to stop the winger.
Chelsea also made their mark from set pieces, scoring twice from corners, something Austin MacPhee will have noted with satisfaction.
Chelsea
Alonso points to Chelsea’s goalkeeping depth amid Costa links
Alonso says Chelsea are happy with Sánchez, Penders and Sharman-Lowe despite Diogo Costa links.
Xabi Alonso has offered a clear indication that Chelsea are content with their current goalkeeping group, despite recent talk of a move for Porto and Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
The Chelsea boss said he is satisfied with the options already available to him and pointed to the balance of experience and youth in the squad. “I’m very happy with Rob [Sánchez], Mike [Penders] and Teddy [Sharman-Lowe],” Alonso admitted . “Mike is a young goalkeeper that has done a great season at Strasbourg. Rob, he has played many years in the club, in Chelsea , as well as the Premier League , he has experience.
“So to have this security in the goal is important,” Alonso finished.
Those remarks appear to reinforce the idea that Chelsea may be prepared to begin the 2026/27 season without bringing in a new established first-choice goalkeeper. Costa had been mentioned in connection with the club, with the Portugal international long regarded as one of the strongest goalkeepers outside Europe’s top-five leagues. He also impressed for Portugal at the 2026 World Cup.
Porto’s position has remained firm, with the club saying they would only consider a sale if his $68.7 million (£51 million) release clause is met. Even so, recent speculation has suggested Chelsea have not made an enquiry and are not planning a move at this stage.
The club did explore the possibility of signing Mike Maignan last summer, but that transfer did not come together. Instead, Chelsea continued with their internal options, and that approach now seems to be holding.
Sánchez is expected to start the third consecutive season in goal when 2026/27 begins. He had briefly lost the position to Đorđe Petrović in his first campaign, but improved in 2025/26, even if errors remain part of his profile.
Behind him, Penders remains the understudy. Signed in 2024, the 21-year-old Belgium international has spent the last two seasons on loan, first at Genk and then at sister club Strasbourg.
Chelsea
Man City Make Contact Over Pedro Neto as Maresca Weighs Wide Options
City are in contact over Neto, but Chelsea’s price and Savinho’s future may decide the outcome.
Manchester City have reportedly opened talks with the camp of Chelsea winger Pedro Neto about a possible return to working with Enzo Maresca.
According to Fabrizio Romano, City are already in “direct contact” with the player’s representatives as they explore a summer move to the Etihad Stadium. The situation is not straightforward, though, and several factors could shape whether any deal progresses.
One key issue is Savinho. Romano has also named Tottenham Hotspur as admirers of Neto, and any departure for the City winger could sharpen Maresca’s interest in strengthening his wide areas. Chelsea’s asking price will also matter, with the London club not actively seeking a sale and likely expecting a strong offer after signing Neto only two summers ago.
Chelsea’s squad depth means the winger is not indispensable in west London. The club has added heavily to its attacking ranks, even after the recent departures of Alejandro Garnacho to Aston Villa and Tyrique George to Everton. Morgan Rogers has arrived for a record-breaking fee, while Geovany Quenda has also joined from Sporting CP. That group sits alongside Estêvão, Jamie Gittens, Cole Palmer and Mykhailo Mudryk, who recently returned after his doping ban was lifted.
Even so, Neto’s value is clear. Only Enzo Fernández created more chances than his 53 last season in the Premier League, and no Chelsea player bettered his 12 big chances created. His pace also gives him a directness that can trouble deep defensive blocks.
Xabi Alonso will want a closer look before any final decision is made, especially as Neto made a late return to preseason after his World Cup involvement with Portugal and is yet to play under Chelsea’s new manager.
City, too, have options on the flanks. Jérémy Doku delivered the best season of his City career in 2025-26, Antoine Semenyo made an immediate impact after arriving mid-season, and Omar Marmoush, Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden have all been used wide in recent campaigns. Jeremy Monga, still only 17, offers further cover. Even so, if Savinho were to depart, Maresca would be left with fewer natural wingers than he would ideally want.
