Enzo Fernandez left out of Chelsea squad for Port Vale and Manchester City fixtures after comments on future

Fernandez ruled out of two matches

Enzo Fernandez will not feature in Chelsea’s next two games, with head coach Liam Rosenior confirming the midfielder will miss Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Port Vale and the following weekend’s Premier League meeting with Manchester City.

Rosenior said the decision was taken in response to comments Fernandez made during the international break, framing the omission as a sanction rather than a long-term exclusion. “The door is not closed on Enzo,” Rosenior said, while adding that “a line was crossed” in relation to the club’s culture.

What Rosenior said about the sanction

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Rosenior described the situation as disappointing while stressing he still holds Fernandez in high regard. He said he had “no bad words” to say about the player as a person, but felt the club had to respond.

Rosenior’s explanation focused on internal standards rather than match performance, and he sought to separate the sanction from Fernandez’s commitment on the pitch. When asked about the midfielder’s happiness at the club, Rosenior said he could not speak for him, but pointed to recent performances as evidence that effort had not been lacking.

• Fernandez will miss the FA Cup quarter-final against Port Vale.
• He will also miss the Premier League match against Manchester City.
• Rosenior described the decision as a joint one and said it was made to protect the club’s culture.
• He stressed the sanction does not close the door on Fernandez’s future involvement.

The comments that triggered the decision

Fernandez has been regularly linked with a potential move to Real Madrid and has been described as a summer target for the Spanish club, who are planning to sign a midfielder. During the international break, the midfielder gave remarks that increased scrutiny on his long-term future at Chelsea.

After Chelsea’s heavy Champions League last-16 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, Fernandez told ESPN Argentina “I don’t know” when asked whether he would still be at the club next season. He added: “My focus is here now. Then the World Cup coming up, so we’ll see after that.”

While on international duty, he also spoke to Marcos Giles, an Argentine media personality, and said: “I really like Madrid - it’s similar to Buenos Aires.” When asked whether he would consider living in Madrid, he replied: “Yes, of course.”

Rosenior: respect for the player, but emphasis on standards

Rosenior repeatedly returned to the idea that the issue was not Fernandez’s quality or his standing within the squad, but the need to uphold standards. He said he has the “utmost respect” for Fernandez “as a character, a person and a player,” and suggested the midfielder’s frustration is connected to Chelsea’s ambitions this season.

“He’s frustrated because he wanted Chelsea to be successful this year,” Rosenior said, adding that the club still believes it can achieve its aims. In his view, that frustration does not remove the need for a response when club expectations are not met.

Debate over whether leaving him out helps Chelsea

Not everyone agrees with the approach. In commentary included alongside the reporting, it was suggested that a manager should avoid making decisions that could weaken the team, particularly with a major league fixture approaching. The view expressed was that the reaction should come from supporters rather than selection decisions, especially given Fernandez’s importance as one of Chelsea’s leading players.

The same comments argued that excluding him could benefit Manchester City, given the timing of the Premier League match. Rosenior, however, has been clear that the club felt it needed to act.

Contract situation and Chelsea’s stance on a transfer

Fernandez’s long-term contract position adds another layer to the story. The Chelsea vice-captain is under contract until 2032. The club’s position, as reported, is that it would only consider an offer of more than £100m for one of its key players.

At the same time, Fernandez is not described as untouchable. Chelsea are planning to sign a new midfielder this summer, which indicates the club is preparing for changes in the middle of the pitch regardless of how the current situation develops.

Real Madrid, for their part, are planning to sign a midfielder and are said to be considering players including Fernandez and Manchester City’s Rodri. It remains unclear whether they would be willing to pay more than £100m for Fernandez when cheaper options may be available.

Background: Chelsea’s record signing and a high-profile career

Chelsea signed Fernandez from Benfica for a then-British record £106.8m three years ago. Since then, he has become a central figure in the squad, and his status is reflected not only in his role but also in the attention his comments attract.

Rosenior’s remarks suggested he sees Fernandez as an important player who can still be part of the club’s plans, even if the coach believes a boundary was crossed during the international break.

Agent Javier Pastore calls the punishment “completely unfair”

Fernandez’s agent, Javier Pastore, criticised the decision in an interview, describing it as “completely unfair.” Pastore said the player did not understand the situation but accepted it because he is professional and respects decisions.

Pastore’s central argument is that Fernandez did not explicitly say he wanted to leave Chelsea. He said the player only mentioned Madrid as a city, responding to a question about where he might like to live one day. Pastore added that the choice of Madrid was logical for an Argentine because of language and cultural similarities, and he insisted Fernandez did not say he wanted to leave either Chelsea or London.

• Pastore said Fernandez accepted the coach’s decision but did not understand it.
• He argued the comments were about Madrid as a city, not a request to leave Chelsea.
• He said Fernandez did not mention another club or say he wanted to depart.

Renewal talks stalled, with plans to revisit after the World Cup

Pastore also revealed that discussions about a new contract took place around December or January but did not lead to an agreement. With six years still remaining on the current deal, the decision was taken not to renew because the terms were not considered right for the player or his representatives.

According to Pastore, the view is that Fernandez “deserves much more than he’s currently earning,” and the timing was not considered right to become drawn into negotiations about figures. He said the plan is to meet Chelsea again after the World Cup and, if no agreement is reached, to explore other options.

Cucurella also spoke out, but will not face disciplinary action

Fernandez was not the only Chelsea player to make headlines during the international break. Defender Marc Cucurella criticised the club’s recruitment approach, particularly the policy of signing young players, and also questioned the impact of Enzo Maresca’s departure on Chelsea’s recent struggles.

Rosenior confirmed he had spoken with Cucurella but said no disciplinary action would be taken. The defender remains available for selection and could even captain the side against Port Vale, with Rosenior naming him among the options to wear the armband.

Rosenior’s message to Cucurella: raise concerns internally

While Rosenior did not sanction Cucurella, he made clear he was unhappy that the concerns were aired publicly. He said he had a “fantastic conversation” with Cucurella in his office, lasting half an hour, and reiterated his desire for players to bring issues directly to him and to the sporting directors.

Rosenior said his disappointment was “where it went to,” arguing that the defender should have spoken to the club first. He also acknowledged that building those internal relationships takes time, noting he has only been in the job for around three months and the team has played a heavy schedule in that period.

Rosenior described Cucurella as a passionate character and said the player has made it “very, very clear” he wants to be at Chelsea and believes in the direction the club is taking.

Emotional fallout after a difficult spell

Rosenior linked the public comments from both Fernandez and Cucurella to a particularly difficult run for the team. He referenced the Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain, describing a strong performance that “fell apart in 15 minutes,” followed by what he called a “huge emotional dump” that carried into subsequent matches.

In Rosenior’s assessment, the squad’s reaction stemmed from a strong belief that Chelsea could achieve something significant in the Champions League this season. He suggested that the frustration behind the comments came from a place of wanting the club to succeed, but that the group needs to respond to setbacks with greater stability.

“Emotional stability” and what Chelsea want to add in the summer

One of Rosenior’s most notable phrases was his call for “players with emotional stability.” He said the club has had conversations with ownership and sporting directors about summer plans, and also with certain players who are happy with the direction being set.

Rosenior’s comments aligned with wider expectations of a busy transfer window. Chelsea are expected to add established players with proven Premier League experience. The club’s reported priorities include a centre-back and a midfielder, while a goalkeeper signing has not been ruled out. One possibility mentioned is Mike Penders returning from a loan at sister club Strasbourg.

Two incoming deals have already been agreed for the summer: Strasbourg forward Emmanuel Emegha and Sporting Lisbon winger Geovany Quenda have signed to join Chelsea.

• Chelsea expect to sign a centre-back and a midfielder.
• A goalkeeper addition is possible, with Mike Penders mentioned as a potential returning option.
• Emmanuel Emegha and Geovany Quenda have already signed deals to join in the summer.
• Rosenior said the club wants to add experience and “emotional stability.”

What to watch next

The immediate focus is team selection for two significant fixtures: an FA Cup quarter-final and a league match against the reigning champions. Chelsea will approach both games without Fernandez, while Cucurella remains in contention and could take on added responsibility if he captains the side.

Beyond the weekend, the broader questions remain unresolved. Fernandez’s remarks, Real Madrid’s reported interest, stalled renewal talks, and Chelsea’s summer recruitment plans all form part of a developing picture. For now, Rosenior has chosen to draw a line under the international break by enforcing a short-term sanction, while emphasising that Fernandez’s longer-term relationship with the club has not been ended.