Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior sensationally revealed that the club’s vice-captain and star midfielder Enzo Fernández is set to be dropped for the next two games after “a line was crossed” with a series of comments about his future.
Fernández has spent the past few weeks openly flirting the possibility of leaving Chelsea. Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid have been tenuously linked with a move for the Argentina international, who has done little to slow down the transfer rumor mill.
Rosenior had initially taken a soft stance on Fernández’s comments, blaming mistranslation and emotion in the heat of the moment after matches. However, after an international break which saw the 25-year-old not only fail to shut the door on a Chelsea exit but appear to actively keep it ajar, the Blues boss has been forced to change his stance.
“I spoke with Enzo an hour ago,” Rosenior told assembled media on Friday afternoon ahead of Chelsea’s FA Cup quarterfinal against Port Vale. “As a football club, with me as part of the decision, he won’t be available for tomorrow’s game or Manchester City next Sunday.
“A line was crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build.”
The Chelsea Matches Enzo Fernández Will Miss
| Date | Opponent | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, April 4 | Port Vale (H) | FA Cup quarterfinal |
| Sunday, April 12 | Man City (H) | Premier League |
This was a bold call which, as Rosenior was at pains to point out, was made by more people than the manager alone. “In terms of the decision,” the 41-year-old outlined, “it’s not all about me, or the sporting directors, the ownership, the players, we are aligned in our decision.”
Whoever made the final call didn’t take the easy option.
Had Fernández been sidelined for just one match, a point would have been made and the prolific playmaker would only have missed an FA Cup tie at home to a Port Vale side rooted to the foot of England’s third tier. However, the two-game sanction means that Rosenior will be without his second-top scorer and leading assist provider for a crucial Premier League clash with Manchester City on Sunday, April 12.
Chelsea are in no position to give up any points in the top flight. A run of poor form has seen the Blues slip down to sixth in the Premier League table, one point adrift of Liverpool in the fifth and final Champions League qualification spot. Manchester United (seven points ahead in third) and Aston Villa (six in fourth) are threatening to pull away from the Club World Cup champions.
What Has Enzo Fernández Said to Earn Two-Game Sanction?
As Rosenior pointed out, the eye of this self-inflicted transfer storm formed around Chelsea’s four-game losing streak to end March. The Blues were comprehensively knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain while also losing to Newcastle United and Everton domestically.
“A lot of this stems from a difficult 10 days,” Rosenior reasoned. “I’ll go back to the first game against PSG, it all fell apart in 15 minutes and there was a huge emotional dump that led into the next three games.”
Immediately after the 8–2 aggregate defeat to PSG on March 17, Fernández cast considerable doubt over his future when he repeated the same two words in response to rumors of a summer switch: “We’ll see.”
A couple of days later, after a “great conversation” with Rosenior, Fernández then admitted that he was “very comfortable” at Stamford Bridge. His tone would soon change once away from Chelsea’s media officer and on international duty.
After questioning why Rosenior’s predecessor Enzo Maresca had left Chelsea earlier this season, Fernández admitted that he would assess his future after the World Cup. The increasingly outspoken midfielder then delivered his most explicit comments regarding a potential move to Real Madrid with a recent interview for Avirales.
“I’d like to live in Spain, I really like Madrid; it reminds me of Buenos Aires,” Fernández admitted when quizzed on a potential destination outside of London. “Players live where they want. I’d live in Madrid. I get by in English, but I’d be more comfortable in Spanish.”
It appears as though this was the tipping point for Rosenior and Chelsea’s hierarchy.
What Next for Enzo Fernández?
The first port of call will presumably be a gag order on any more interviews for Fernández, particularly if a Spanish-speaker from Chelsea is not looming over his shoulder ready to interject.
On the pitch, Rosenior very much opened the door for Fernández to come back into the fold once his two-match ban has been observed. There just so happens to be an almighty clash with Champions League-qualification rivals Manchester United on April 18.
“Enzo, firstly, as a character, a person and a player, I have the utmost respect,” Rosenior gushed, adding that there has been “no lack of commitment” in his performances throughout this saga. “He’s frustrated because he wants us to be successful.
“... 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.”
When pushed on Fernández’s future beyond the current campaign, Rosenior was less emphatic. “In terms of speaking for him, what he wants and his future, it’s not for me to speak about,” he shrugged.
Quite where Fernández would end up is unclear. Real Madrid’s interest in the attacking midfielder has been downplayed—it’s though the Spanish giants are more interested in a defensively minded player—while PSG’s squad scarcely has room for someone of Fernández’s profile.
Why Marc Cucurella Hasn’t Faced the Same Punishment As Enzo Fernandez?
Fernández is not the only outspoken squad member at Chelsea. While Moisés Caicedo and Malo Gusto and dutifully towed the party line, Marc Cucurella came out forcefully against several decisions made by the club while also opening himself up to a move to Barcelona.
Yet, Rosenior confirmed that Cucurella will not face any sanction.
“I had a fantastic chat with Marc yesterday, half an hour in my office,” Rosenior explained. “My disappointment in Marc’s interview was where it went to, I think he should’ve spoke to us first about how he was feeling.
“As a football club, we know we need to improve. We know what we’re going to do in the summer to achieve those objectives.”
In a very telling conclusion to a remarkable press conference, Rosenior explicitly focused on personality rather than playing traits when looking towards the summer transfer window. “Bringing players with emotional stability,” was his request.
“Bringing good characters in who, in difficult moments, can understand what it takes to win in those difficult moments.”
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as What Next for Chelsea, Enzo Fernandez After Stunning Ban for ‘Crossing the Line’?.
