In recent weeks, Chelsea’s vice-captain Enzo Fernandez has caused a stir several times with public statements when he openly flirted with a transfer and also questioned the change of coach to Liam Rosenior. The latter has now suspended the Argentine for two games.
Chelsea FC will play their FA Cup quarter-final against third division side Port Vale on Saturday without Enzo Fernandez – and will also be without the 25-year-old’s services for the league game against Manchester City in a week’s time. This was confirmed by Blues coach Liam Rosenior on Friday at the press conference of the Premier League’s sixth-placed team, after the Argentine world champion had recently been repeatedly in the media for a summer departure – despite his contract until 2032 and his role as vice-captain.
“I spoke to Enzo an hour ago,” said Rosenior. “As a club, we have made a decision: He will not be available for tomorrow’s game and also not for the game against Manchester City next Sunday. Because I think it’s disappointing for Enzo to express himself like that.” He had “nothing bad” to say about Fernandez, but felt “that a line had been crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build. That’s why we had to impose a sanction.”
Enzo flirted with a move to Real Madrid
Enzo, who moved from Benfica to the Londoners for €121 million after winning the World Cup with Argentina in 2023, openly flirted with a move away for the first time at the beginning of March. In an interview with ESPN, he left his future with the Blues open and explained that, for the time being, he would only concentrate on the rest of the season and the World Cup in the summer, “then we’ll see”. In a livestream on social media, Fernandez then fueled the rumors that he could move to Real Madrid. “I would like to live in Spain, I like Madrid very much; it reminds me of Buenos Aires,” he replied when asked where he would like to live if he were to leave London. “Players live where they want. I would live in Madrid. I can cope with English, but I would feel more comfortable in Spanish.”
Fernandez is also likely to have caused additional displeasure with statements on decisions made by Chelsea officials regarding the resignation of former coach Enzo Maresca, who was dismissed by the club on New Year’s Day and replaced by Rosenior a week later. He “doesn’t understand” why the Blues parted company with Maresca, Fernandez explained in an interview with TUDN, a Mexican TV station. “Of course it’s a loss that has hurt us a lot, because we had an identity, he had given us a direction, regardless of whether soccer sometimes brings good or bad results,” said Fernandez, who recently switched his consultancy agency to former professional Javier Pastore. “Enzo always had a very clear identity when it came to training and playing, and of course his departure hurt us a lot, especially in the middle of the season.”
Cucurella also questioned Maresca’s dismissal
Looking back on the international break, Rosenior spoke of “ten really difficult days, probably the ten most difficult days of my career as a player or coach”. Alongside Fernandez, left-back Marc Cucurella had also publicly criticized Maresca’s dismissal and reported its “huge influence” on the team. According to Rosenior, however, there was now a “fantastic” half-hour conversation with the Spaniard, and the 27-year-old does not have to fear any consequences.
“I’ve told the players that if they have any problems with the way we do things, they should come to me and the sporting directors and talk to us,” said Rosenior, under whom Chelsea have recently fallen off the pace: in March, the team only impressed in a 4-1 win at Aston Villa, having previously lost the derby against Arsenal 2-1. The Blues only prevailed at second division side Wrexham in the round of 16 of the FA Cup in extra time after trailing twice, after which Chelsea lost their remaining four March fixtures and were eliminated from the Champions League with two clear defeats against PSG.