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Fernandez handed two-match ban over comments
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez will miss the club's upcoming FA Cup quarter-final and a Premier League match after manager Liam Rosenior confirmed the player had "crossed a line" with public statements about his future at Stamford Bridge.
Background and transfer history
The 25-year-old Argentine arrived at Chelsea in January 2023 for a British-record fee of £107 million. Since then, he has featured in 161 matches for the London side.
Rosenior explains decision
Fernandez was left out of the squad for Saturday's FA Cup clash with Port Vale and the 12 April Premier League fixture against Manchester City. Rosenior described the midfielder's remarks as "disappointing" but stressed that the sanction was collective, involving the club's ownership and sporting directors.
"I have no bad words to say about him. He's frustrated because he wants us to be successful. But a line was crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build."
Liam Rosenior
Rosenior added that the door "is not closed" on Fernandez, framing the punishment as a necessary step to protect the club's values.
Fernandez's shifting statements
After Chelsea's Champions League exit last month, Fernandez told ESPN he was uncertain about his future at the club. He later clarified that there had been "no talks" with Real Madrid but admitted he would "like to live in Spain," comparing the Spanish capital to his hometown of Buenos Aires.
Rosenior acknowledged the timing of the comments, linking them to a challenging run of results, including four consecutive losses in March. The team suffered an 8-2 aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last 16.
Cucurella's future also questioned
Defender Marc Cucurella similarly hinted at a potential return to Barcelona but later stated he was "happy" at Chelsea and preferred to stay for "a few years." Rosenior said he spoke with Cucurella for 30 minutes on Thursday and expressed confidence in the player's commitment.
"The comments from Enzo and Marc stem from a good place-they want the club to succeed. But in those moments, we need more emotional stability as a group."
Liam Rosenior
Chelsea's recent form and outlook
Since Rosenior took charge in January, Chelsea have won 10 of 19 games, losing seven and drawing two. They currently sit sixth in the Premier League, six points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa in the race for Champions League qualification.
