Former John Obi Mikel has criticized Enzo Fernandez over his leadership and recent comments following Chelsea’s exit from the UEFA Champions League.
Fernandez had earlier blamed the team’s defeat on Paris Saint-Germain, saying they were tactically better than Chelsea under manager Liam Rosenior. He also raised doubts about his future at the club, telling ESPN Argentina he is unsure if he will remain at Chelsea beyond this season.
In another interview, Fernandez said that if he could choose any European city to live in, he would pick Madrid, which further fueled speculation about his future.
Reacting on his Obi One Podcast, Mikel said Fernandez’s statements show a lack of leadership, especially as a captain.
“That is not a leader.
“That is 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.
“You don’t make that statement after we’ve been disgracefully dumped out of the Champions League, wearing the captain’s armband.
“No player is bigger than the football club. If he’s had enough, put your hands up and f*** off. And we move on.
“I can understand a little bit of frustration, but you still have to respect the badge, you still have to respect the football club, you still have to respect the fans, because the fans are the ones who pay your wages.”
