Chelsea Dressing Room Chaos: Maresca Slams Midfield Trio After Nervy Carabao Cup Win
Chelsea’s narrow 2-1 victory over Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup on September 23, 2025, should have been routine. Instead, it sparked major controversy inside the Blues’ dressing room, as manager Enzo Maresca reportedly unleashed a furious tirade against three of his midfielders.
Maresca’s Post-Match Outburst
According to multiple reports, Maresca singled out Enzo Fernández, Andrey Santos, and Facundo Buonanotte for being “too easy to break down” after a shaky first-half performance.
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Enzo Fernández – The £107m World Cup winner was heavily criticized for careless passing and poor defensive tracking, with one mistake directly leading to Lincoln’s opening goal.
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Andrey Santos – Making just his third start for Chelsea, the 20-year-old was described as “too lightweight” after struggling to provide cover in front of the backline.
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Facundo Buonanotte – Neat in possession but ineffective in attack, the young Argentine was accused of lacking creativity in the final third.
Witnesses claim Maresca shouted in frustration: “I don’t even understand what those three came here to play tonight!” The heated atmosphere was reportedly tense but controlled, with the manager later holding one-on-one talks to calm the situation.
Game-Changing Substitutions
Ironically, it was Maresca’s half-time substitutions—Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Noni Madueke, and João Essugo—that turned the game around. The trio inspired a quick six-minute comeback that secured Chelsea’s place in the next round, though questions now linger over squad trust and morale.
Growing Pressure on Maresca
The incident comes at a difficult time for the Chelsea boss. Following recent defeats to Bayern Munich and Manchester United, fans and pundits are divided over his approach:
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Gary Neville compared the outburst to a “Mourinho-style wake-up call.”
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Jamie Carragher suggested Maresca should shoulder responsibility for risky squad rotation.
With Brighton next in the Premier League and a fourth-round Carabao Cup clash looming, Maresca faces a defining moment. Can his tough-love tactics build resilience, or will they fracture team spirit?
What It Means for Fernández, Santos, and Buonanotte
For Chelsea’s young midfield trio, the message could not be clearer: excuses won’t be tolerated at Stamford Bridge. With competition for places heating up, every performance counts—and one mistake could open the door for rivals.