Wesley Sneijder has hit out at over his performance against on Tuesday night and claims co-owner will be fuming with his club-record signing.
The west Londoners went into their Champions League quarter-final, second-leg showdown against the holders needing to overturn a two-goal deficit and gave a spirited showing in the first half – though missed several gilt-edged chances to pull a goal back in the tie.
Real made Chelsea pay for their profligacy in the 58th minute when Rodrygo burst in behind the defence before finishing the move, and the Brazilian then late on after a slick back-to-front team goal.
Despite some positives for Chelsea in the match, former Real Madrid star Sneijder felt Fernandez – and his lack of work rate – was a big problem for the hosts.
A few minutes before the opener, the Argentine gave away possession and then ambled back towards his goal – with Conor Gallagher racing past him – while he also conceded possession shortly before Rodrygo’s first goal and was slow to get back into the box.
Speaking on RTL7, Sneijder said: ‘If you have been brought in as a player for €100million (Chelsea paid €121m, or £107m) then you can at least expect that he will run his lungs out, right?
‘But he walked! He loses the ball himself, then he has a moment of mourning. You see Enzo, a €100m purchase [sic], trudge a bit while Gallagher runs past him.
‘That is not possible, it must be addressed.
‘You look at a boy like that and I wonder: what does he take ownership of? He doesn’t. I’d call that boy on the mat tomorrow.
‘I don’t think he’s a great footballer either. You [the show’s presenter] said he did it for Lionel Messi [at the World Cup]. I thought he would do it at Chelsea too, but he doesn’t.
‘If things don’t go smoothly in football, and you’re not scoring goals, then you have to make sure you don’t concede. You have to run your lungs out, and he won’t do that.’
Prior to the second leg, much had been said about Todd Boehly’s decision to speak to the players in the dressing room after their loss to Brighton – with the American billionaire .
But Sneijder has defended Boehly’s visit and feels he would have been fully within his rights to chastise the players again after the loss to Real – particularly Fernandez.
He continued: ‘I understand that [going and speaking to the players]. As an owner, you have paid so much money, so you are angry and you walk in.
‘If you are the owner watching in the stands and you see that Gallagher is making such a sprint and your €100m [sic] player is not, then yes, I would also get angry!’
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