Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez will miss two crucial matches after comments about his future sparked internal backlash.
Manager Liam Rosenior confirmed the decision, stressing that boundaries within the squad had been breached.
After Chelsea’s exit from the UEFA Champions League last month, Fernandez told ESPN that he did not know whether he would remain at Stamford Bridge next season.
The 25-year-old Argentine joined the Blues for what was a British record transfer fee of £107m in January 2023 and has made 161 appearances.
Rosenior said the midfielder has been dropped for Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Port Vale and the Premier League fixture against Manchester City on 12 April.”It’s disappointing for Enzo to speak that way,” Rosenior said.
“I have got no bad words to say about him but a line was crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build.As a character, a person and a player, I have the utmost respect. He’s frustrated because he wants us to be successful.
“In terms of the decision, it’s not all about me, or the sporting directors. The ownership, the players, we are aligned in our decision.
“The door is not closed on Enzo. It’s a sanction. You have to protect the culture, and in terms of that, a line was crossed,” Rosenior stated.
Chelsea crisis deepens as dressing room tension meets Champions League fallout
In the same interview, Fernandez said that there had been “no talks” with Real Madrid and added that he was focused on Chelsea but would “see after the World Cup”.
However, in a more recent interview, he said he would “like to live in Spain” and that Madrid reminded him of Buenos Aires.
“It’s not ideal,” Rosenior said.
“A lot of this stems from a difficult 10 days in terms of results we have had – probably the most difficult for me as a player or manager.”
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Chelsea lost four successive games between 11 and 21 March, including an 8-2 aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. Meanwhile, defender Marc Cucurella also hinted at a possible return to FC Barcelona before clarifying his commitment.
“The players were motivated that we could do something really special in the Champions League,” Rosenior said.
“The comments from Enzo and Marc Cucurella’s interview both stem from that.
“It actually stems from a good place where they want the club to succeed. But in those moments, we need more emotional stability as a group of players.”
Chelsea have won 10 of 19 matches under Rosenior and sit sixth, six points behind Aston Villa.
Tags: Enzo Fernandez, Liam Rosenior, Marc Cucurella, #KTBFFH, #COYB, #CFC, Chelsea, #PremierLeague, #EPL, Premier League.
