Chelsea are open to Enzo Fernández captaining the side again this season and hope to reintegrate the midfielder after his comments over his future. Fernández, who is on Real Madrid’s shortlist as they look to revamp their midfield, was dropped after whipping up a storm during last month’s international break.
The Argentina international was not particularly subtle when he mentioned Madrid as the European city in which he would most like to live and praised the former Real Madrid midfielders Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. He also angered Chelsea by questioning the departure of Enzo Maresca, who was replaced by Liam Rosenior as head coach in January.
Rosenior reacted by saying Fernández’s various remarks “crossed a line” and, with the backing of the hierarchy, suspended the £106.7m midfielder for last Saturday’s FA Cup win over Port Vale and this Sunday’s crucial Premier League game against Manchester City.
The punishment raised questions over Fernández’s status within the squad given he is viewed from the outside as Chelsea’s vice-captain and has led the side when Reece James has been out.
Within Stamford Bridge, though, the situation is regarded as more nuanced. Fernández was never officially made vice-captain and is viewed as one of several co-captains. Fernández is part of the leadership group, but has not, for instance, been bestowed with greater seniority than his midfield teammate Moisés Caicedo. Cole Palmer was captain last Saturday and with James out with a hamstring injury Caicedo is expected to be captain against City.
There is a recognition Fernández is an “alpha” character, making it natural for him to deputise as captain. With nothing official around the role, though, a decision over whether to reallocate the vice-captaincy is not one Chelsea have had to make.
Club sources have been clear that the 25-year-old remains part of the leadership group. Chelsea are assessing his response to his sanction and hope that he puts himself in a position to captain the side again. Rosenior was pleased Fernández was at Stamford Bridge for the Port Vale game.
A key factor is whether Fernández, whose disquiet has been attributed in part to a lack of progress in his push for a better contract, remains at the club this summer. Real Madrid are unlikely to meet Chelsea’s £100m asking price and there are not many alternative suitors for the former Benfica midfielder, whose deal runs until 2032. Javier Pastore, Fernández’s agent, last week said that his client would explore options if a new deal were not agreed after the World Cup.
Pastore called Fernández’s two-game ban unfair. Chelsea are adamant it was the right call, even though they will be without one of their most important players as they seek to revive their push for Champions League qualification by beating City. They felt a stand had to be made because Fernández was deemed to have disrespected the club. Chelsea’s owners and sporting directors have no issue with being given feedback in private by players, but wanted to make clear that public dissent is counterproductive.
Marc Cucurella also criticised the club in the international break, but the left-back avoided a sanction because he did so in only one interview. Fernández spoke out more than once. Chelsea face Leeds in the FA Cup semi-finals this month, but are sixth in the league and have struggled to recover from being knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain last month.
