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Wed 5 Aug11:30

Chelsea fans send clear message after starting XI announcement

Sourav MahantySourav Mahanty
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It is safe to say that most Chelsea fans are looking forward to the end of the season. What is ahead feels a lot more promising than what we are leaving behind. The 25/26 campaign was another one to forget. But supporters will be hoping that it ends up showing BlueCo the need to change their ways. The early signs are already promising, as Xabi Alonso has been brought in and named ‘manager’.

That is a ‘symbolic’ gesture on the part of the club. It showcases a desire to tell the supporters that they are ready to change.

That will mean bringing in new players this summer, with input from Alonso, as well as the departure of some of their current team. And one player who has been heavily linked with a move away recently is Enzo Fernandez.

A large section of the fanbase does not want to see Fernandez leave though. They made it very clear as the starting XI for Chelsea’s final game of the season, against Sunderland, was officially put out. Incidentally, Fernandez was named the captain in what could be his final game for the Blues.

Chelsea’s fans do not want to see Enzo Fernandez leave this summer

Unsurprisingly, most of the talk revolved around Fernandez and his future with the club. One Chelsea fan wrote: “Enzo please stay man, we’ve got lots of titles to win together.”

Another commented: “If we lose Enzo, might as well build a new team, he’s our main engine 90min every game.”

There are also fans convinced that there is not much to the speculation surrounding Fernandez’s future. One wrote: “You all should calm down, Enzo is not leaving. If he’s leaving Fabrizio would have broke the news for us.”

Should Chelsea consider letting Fernandez leave in this summer transfer window?

Well, there has to be something to this story. Otherwise, it would have been ruled out a long time ago. Yes, the noise had faded after the two-game suspension, but that might very well have been the two parties deciding to give things a look once the season ended more than anything else.

Of course, if Fernandez does end up leaving, it would be a blow for the club. There are those who believe that it would be better for the overall balance of the team. But I simply cannot see how you replace his 22 goal contributions from midfield.

It would also be a bad look for BlueCo. Fernandez was the first mega signing that they made. In many ways, he was brought in as the face of the project, straight a World Cup win with Argentina. Letting him go three-and-a-half years later, especially if he joins a direct rival in the Premier League, would be bad optics for sure.

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Sourav Mahanty has covered teams like Chelsea, Celtic, Real Madrid, Manchester United, PSG and more over a career that has now lasted a decade. His work has been featured on Sports Illustrated, Athlon Sports, SB Nation, FanSided, The Sportster and aggregated through Bleacher Report and NewsNow. Outside of football, he is also interested in basketball, cricket and professional wrestling.

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