Chelsea Sanction Enzo Fernández After Real Madrid Comments as Rosenior Drops Midfielder for Two Matches

 

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández has been sanctioned by the club after appearing to push for a move to Real Madrid during the international break. Head coach Liam Rosenior confirmed that the Argentina international will not feature in Chelsea’s next two fixtures as a consequence of his remarks about his future.

Fernández will miss Saturday’s FA Cup quarter‑final against Port Vale and next Sunday’s Premier League clash with Manchester City. Rosenior said the decision was made collectively and reflects the standards the club is trying to build. “It’s disappointing for Enzo to speak that way,” he 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.”

Rosenior stressed that the sanction was not solely his call. “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.”

However, Rosenior confirmed that no disciplinary action would be taken against Marc Cucurella, despite the defender publicly criticising Chelsea’s recruitment strategy and questioning former manager Enzo Maresca’s departure. Rosenior said he held a 30‑minute conversation with Cucurella on Thursday and believes the Spaniard is “fully committed.”

Chelsea have won 10 of their 19 matches since Rosenior took charge in January, losing seven and drawing two. They sit sixth in the Premier League, six points behind fourth‑placed Aston Villa in the race for Champions League qualification.