Chelsea coach defended his decision to give midfielder the captain's armband for the team's opening Premier League game of the season despite the Argentina international being filmed singing a racist chant this offseason.
The first game in charge ended with a 2-0 loss to Manchester City at Stamford Bridge, with many post-game questions focusing on the midfielder and Raheem Sterling, who expressed dissatisfaction with being left out of the matchday squad.
The midfielder captained the team in place of the injured Reece James, even after being criticized by Chelsea teammate for posting a video on social media showing him and other Argentina players appearing to sing about French players with African heritage after their Copa America title win.
The French Football Federation filed a complaint to FIFA regarding the incident, which was referred to as “uninhibited racism.” However, the coach stated that the midfielder had acknowledged his mistake and apologized to his teammates, emphasizing the need to move forward.
Despite the controversy, all players took a knee before kickoff to highlight the ongoing fight against racism in soccer, as seen in other Premier League games this opening weekend.
The coach downplayed a statement from Sterling's representatives seeking “clarity” about the winger's future at the club after he was left out of the matchday squad. The coach explained that Sterling's absence was a technical decision and that any necessary clarifications would be provided in due course.
Chelsea's squad was further bolstered in the offseason with the addition of nine new players, none of whom started the season opener against Manchester City.
