Enzo Maresca facing early test of his Chelsea credentials over handling of Enzo Fernandez racism storm [Video]

New Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca takes charge of the team for the first time in the early hours of Thursday, though his first serious off-field challenge has already landed on his desk. He now faces the prospect of a deeply divided dressing room to mend.

The Blues take on Wrexham in California in a pre-season friendly draped in Hollywood glamour thanks to Wrexham’s owners, the actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

But the backdrop to the match has been dominated by a racism storm raging around star player Enzo Fernandez, the club’s £107 million signing, who last week published on social media a video of Argentina’s players singing a racist and homophobic song directed at French players, in the hours after their Copa America victory.

Maresca must get to grips with the situation immediately, setting a commanding but caring tone for his Chelsea tenure. The Italian’s public stance overnight, when talking for …