Chelsea
Fernández criticises Maresca exit and flags wider concerns at Chelsea
Enzo Fernández: Maresca sacking ‘hurt’ Chelsea; contract talks stall and fans vow April 18 protest..
Enzo Fernández has publicly questioned Chelsea’s decision to dismiss manager Enzo Maresca midseason, saying the move “hurt” the squad. In a new interview with TUDN he set out his bewilderment at the timing and the way the club handled the change.
“I don’t understand it either,” Fernández confessed. “Sometimes there are things that we as players don’t understand, how and in what way they try to manage things.
“Obviously, it was a departure that hurt us a lot because we had an identity. He gave us an order, even though, as is the way of football, sometimes it’s good and bad.
“But he always had a very clear identity when it came to training and playing, and obviously his departure hurt us a lot, especially in the middle of the season, it cuts everything short.”
Those comments add to a growing list of concerns around the club. On the pitch, Chelsea were humiliated in the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain and they sit on the fringes of the qualification race for the competition. Off the pitch there have been reports of stuttering contract talks; Chelsea are working to improve Fernández’s base salary under a wage structure that limits guaranteed earnings but rewards through performance-related bonuses, yet an agreement has not been reached on a deal that runs until 2032.
None of this means a summer exit is guaranteed, and the fact Fernández’s contract still has six years left to run will reassure Chelsea, but his frustrations threaten to make life incredibly difficult for the Blues this summer.
Questions about the club’s conduct at a business level have been common this season. Fans have already been protesting against the ownership, with most of the frustrations sparked by Maresca’s departure, which came about after the Italian clashed with those above him over their approach to running the team. Supporters point to a clumsy, expensive transfer strategy and limited on-field progress.
Fan group NotAProjectCFC have confirmed the next stage of their campaign. On April 18, before the match against Manchester United, the group intend to welcome a number of fans from Strasbourg, the other BlueCo-owned entity, to join forces against the ownership. “As a result of the continued erosion of values at both football clubs, we have decided to come together to take action with one clear, unified message: Blueco Out,” a statement read.
Chelsea
Jesse Derry posts update after head injury curtailed Premier League debut
Derry hopes for a swift recovery after being stretchered off on his Premier League debut. Stay tuned.
Jesse Derry has posted a short update after a head injury ended his Premier League debut early.
The Chelsea winger started at Stamford Bridge, but his afternoon was cut short when he required around 10 minutes of treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off and taken to hospital. Abbott was able to leave the field on his own two feet, while Chelsea confirmed Derry was conscious and communicating in the immediate aftermath.
“A dream come true to start at Stamford Bridge for my Premier League debut,” Derry wrote. “I’d like to thank all the Chelsea medical staff, everyone at St Mary’s Hospital, my teammates, and all the fans for their great support. I can’t wait to be back playing in front of everyone very soon.”
No formal diagnosis has been released and Chelsea will take a cautious approach. A typical concussion protocol requires a period of rest of up to 12 days, which makes it likely Derry will miss this weekend’s trip to Liverpool and the FA Cup final against Manchester City. In the best-case scenario he could be available for the visit of Tottenham Hotspur on May 19.
When he was on the field the youngster showed promise on the left of Chelsea’s attack. His inexperience at the highest level was clear, but so too were his determination and desire to make things happen, traits that have not always been evident among senior wingers this season.
With Jamie Gittens and Estêvão injured and Mykhailo Mudryk suspended, competition for places on the left is reduced to Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho. Neto remains first choice when fit and has contributed five goals and four assists in 32 Premier League outings.
Chelsea will monitor Derry’s recovery closely and avoid any rush back. When he is ready, the club will give him the chance to resume what had been an encouraging first outing.
Chelsea
Chelsea supporters announce two protests targeting BlueCo ahead of FA Cup final
Fans plan two protests before the FA Cup final and a later match, demanding change from BlueCo. more
A Chelsea supporters’ group has confirmed two planned protests aimed at ownership group BlueCo, with demonstrations set before the FA Cup final against Manchester City on May 16 and a second protest a few days later against Tottenham Hotspur. NotAProjectCFC said a banner questioning the performances of co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart will be displayed during the gatherings.
“While we recognize the importance of both matches, we feel these steps are absolutely necessary in an attempt to send a public message that we have no faith in the current ownership and the direction the club is heading,” a statement read .
The protests follow a period of growing fan frustration as BlueCo, which arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2022, pursued an ambitious plan from 2023 to make Chelsea one of Europe’s best clubs. Led by co-owner Behdad Eghbali, the ownership assembled a decision-making team including Winstanley, Stewart and recruitment chiefs Joe Shields and Sam Jewell. The stated strategy focused on heavy investment in young players, developing them into stars, winning trophies and generating profits by selling fringe players.
A total of $2 billion (£1.5 billion) has been spent to build Chelsea’s squad and the club recorded the largest pre-tax loss in history at $350 million (£262 million). Limited on-field success and underwhelming returns through player trading are cited in that financial picture.
Recent results have done little to calm supporters. Monday’s defeat to Nottingham Forest and a season in which Chelsea face a battle to finish in the top half of the Premier League table have intensified criticism. Enzo Maresca’s time in charge, which included victory in the Club World Cup during the summer, briefly muted complaints, but his departure in January after a clash with those above him marked a turning point. The subsequent hiring and swift firing of Liam Rosenior did not appease fans.
Media briefs following Rosenior’s exit promised a period of “self-reflection,” but supporters remain skeptical. “Given the unprecedented expenditure on the men’s first team since Blueco acquired the club, this is absolutely unacceptable,” the statement continued.
“The issues at the club go far beyond any manager. Until meaningful change is brought about to the environment in which they operate, the identity of these managers will be futile. We also have no faith that the club is entering any period of ‘self-reflection’ as stated. We are interested in actions, not words.”
Chelsea
Chelsea 1-3 Nottingham Forest: Defensive Errors and VAR Decide at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea lost 3-1 to Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge. It leaves them ninth after six defeats…
Chelsea conceded at Stamford Bridge and fell to a 3–1 defeat by Nottingham Forest on Monday, a result that underlined a season slipping out of their control. The Blues ended a nine-hour wait for a Premier League goal with João Pedro’s acrobatic strike in stoppage time, but that consolation did little to alter the match’s narrative.
Nottingham Forest struck twice in quick succession. Igor Jesus converted from the spot after a VAR-recommended review following Malo Gusto’s shirt pull on Taiwo Awoniyi, and Awoniyi added a second at the start of the second half following a dangerous delivery from Dilane Bakwa and good work from Morgan Gibbs-White. Cole Palmer had a first-half penalty saved by Matz Sels, and João Pedro briefly had a goal ruled out for offside before scoring his late overhead kick.
The defeat drops Chelsea to ninth and extends a run of six straight defeats for the first time since 1993. Nottingham Forest are described in the report as practically safe. The assessment for the Blues was blunt: poor defending, ill-discipline and costly moments under VAR scrutiny.
Individual ratings reflected a mixed performance. Enzo Fernández (7.7) and João Pedro (7.7) were the highest-rated performers, while Marc Cucurella received 7.5. Malo Gusto’s shirt pull and overall defending featured in the match’s decisive moments; the full list of ratings in the report ranged from Robert Sánchez (5.8) to Cucurella and included several midrange scores across the back line and midfield.
Substitutions included Liam Delap (45’) and Levi Colwill (46’), with Filip Jörgensen coming on at 66’. Several players were unused on the bench, including Jorrel Hato, Josh Acheampong, Wesley Fofana, Dário Essugo and Reece James. The report concluded with statistics that showed Chelsea dominating possession (68%) and attempts (21 shots) but falling short on the day; expected goals were 1.93 for Chelsea and 2.07 for Forest.
With domestic cup progress now a vital objective, the result leaves Chelsea facing a critical period in which form must improve quickly.
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