According to The Telegraph, Enzo was criticized for his victim mentality causing trouble.
Manchester City's midfielder once again became the focus of controversy in the Manchester derby victory, but he is exactly the kind of "troublemaker" professional the club wants.
Enzo Fernandez left the ring with a bloody nose, which was in line with his usual image, like an Argentine welterweight boxer leaving the ring with his head held high after a fierce brawl. However, if one of the hallmarks of a boxer is their ability to withstand blows, then this £125 million Manchester City player falls far short; he often goes down with the slightest contact, the severity of which is best left to the SNIC instrument to determine, let alone VAR.
In this highly charged Manchester derby, Maguire appeared not only annoyed but also morally indignant towards his "arch-rival's" actions. Fernandez merely touched the center-back's ankle, yet Maguire first helped him up, then collapsed as if electrocuted.
Whether it's a blatant dive or an attempt to disrupt Lisandro Martinez's attack before Haaland's goal, Fernandes is the kind of "troublemaker" that's impossible to look away from. Yes, he'll fight tooth and nail for the team, but he's more famous for infuriating everyone. And that's precisely the quality Manchester City values most. Having already brought in technically gifted midfielders like Elliott Anderson and Buadi, they needed a professional "spoiler" to complete this major overhaul. Fernandes is that player Manchester City signed, even at a price higher than Chelsea's asking price. He delivered with almost cartoonish excitement, bringing all his harshness and ferocity to the game, leaving Manchester United on edge.
If Maguire was furious about Fernandes's action, Carrick was just as furious. The Manchester United manager, usually composed, could hardly hide his annoyance at VAR's failure to disallow Haaland's goal, as Fernandes appeared to have blocked Martinez as he attempted a diving header in the center of the six-yard box. "Shocking," Carrick said, a rare sharp comment from him.
No matter how you look at it, this decision was baffling. The offside rule clearly states that a player is offside if they "clearly attempt to kick a ball at close range that affects an opponent," and Fernandes' foul met both conditions. He lunged at the ball, interfering with Martinez's clearance. Yet, for some reason, VAR determined he hadn't touched the ball, leaving the Manchester United bench stunned and those who created the controversy gloating. The professional refereeing company was forced to apologize three hours after the final whistle, effectively confirming their decision to overturn a correct decision and turn it into an incorrect one—and as everyone was shocked to see, it was indeed wrong.
Fernandez's favorite thing is to get away with wrongdoing. England fans probably won't forget his dirty tricks for Argentina in the World Cup semi-final: he struck Anderson in the back of the head with his forearm in the second minute of the match, yet didn't even receive a yellow card. What's even more embarrassing is that he then responded to his critics with the "Topo Gigio" celebration, putting his hand behind his ear and pretending not to hear the boos.
His ability to repeatedly amplify the most egregious acts while simultaneously projecting a self-pitying victim mentality is truly astonishing. Especially when we recall those scenes—such as his kicking Kubasi into the air during the World Cup final, which resulted in a red card; or the 2024 video where he hurled homophobic insults at Mbappe and made racist remarks about the striker's French teammate—it becomes even clearer how despicable he is.
The problem is, the football world always seems to pay the price for his bad reputation. After Fernandez became the sixth player to be sent off in this greatest match of all time, it was widely expected that he would return to the Premier League as a target of public criticism, facing condemnation wherever he went. To some extent, this did happen: he was immediately surrounded by deafening boos as he stepped off the team bus at Old Trafford, audible even through headphones. Yet, of course, he laughed. Why wouldn't a player who had just been humiliated by the World Cup a month earlier and became the first player in history to be sold twice for nine-figure sums laugh out loud?
So far, Manchester City have had little reason to care about the cumbersome baggage he carries. He's been incredibly effective at containing Manchester United, winning six duels, delivering three through balls, and even hitting the post once while the home side struggled. At least one thing is certain: Fernandes will bring a strong emotional element to Manchester City this season. While Rodri's playmaking and distribution have been exquisite, City's dominant period was often criticized for being too dull and cold. Fernandes promises to shatter that image, although his penchant for taunting and boasting after every controversial victory may make the team even less popular with neutral fans than it is now.
His manager, Maresca, offered the most lavish praise, emphasizing his "winner's mentality." But when the Italian's judgment veers off track, he describes him as a "well-mannered person." Fernandez has many distinctive characteristics, but it's hard to imagine him being quickly adopted as a role model by Debret's Etiquette Guide. This is the same player who pushed for his own transfer to Real Madrid midway through a difficult season at Chelsea, shirking all responsibility; and his understanding of loyalty is evident in his attempt to have his then-teammate Cucurella sent off for Spain in the New Jersey final in July.
While he is undeniably a scandalous figure in many ways, he is also a dramatic flashpoint. His enduring influence stems from his ability to consistently generate buzz—after all, everyone outside of Manchester's avid supporters loves and hates him.
