Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has issued an apology regarding his remarks about Enzo Fernandes’s potential move to Real Madrid. However, he confirmed that the midfielder will miss the upcoming match against Manchester City.
During the international break, Fernandes expressed uncertainty about his future at Chelsea in an interview with ESPN Argentina, particularly after the team’s Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain. He stated, “I want to live in Spain. I really like Madrid.”
Rosenior confirmed that despite Fernandes’s apology, the club intends to uphold his internal two-match suspension. The midfielder previously missed the FA Cup quarter-final against Port Vale and will not participate in the critical Premier League clash this Sunday at Stamford Bridge.
“I’ve had three or four very productive discussions with Enzo,” Rosenior said. “He has apologized to both me and the club. We will reassess the situation after Sunday’s important game.”
The manager characterized their talks as essential, emphasizing the seriousness of the matter. He maintained that he has never doubted Fernandes’s character. “People make mistakes, but I believe that the repercussions of those mistakes should be proportionate,” he added.
Looking ahead, Rosenior anticipates that Fernandes will play a significant role in Chelsea’s season, although he acknowledged that there are hurdles the player must overcome first. When asked if Chelsea risked underutilizing one of their top talents, Rosenior responded, “No, I have an exceptional team filled with outstanding players. Selecting the starting XI remains a complex challenge, and we need to find the right balance in the days to come.”
Rosenior reinforced the notion that football is fundamentally a team sport. “It’s not about individuals or sabotaging ourselves. There are core values and a culture that this club stands by, and getting those right will ultimately strengthen the team,” he stated.
Regarding Fernandes’s chances of playing in next weekend’s match against Manchester United, Rosenior indicated that the unnamed “hurdles” should not impede the midfielder’s return. He further refuted rumors that some players within the squad were calling for Fernandes to be included in the match against City, labeling that claim as false.
“There are still certain matters to clarify before I can make a definitive statement regarding the situation,” he noted, underscoring the complexity of the current scenario.
Currently, Chelsea sits in sixth place, striving to regain momentum in their pursuit of Champions League qualification with just five points separating them from the relegation zone. With five English teams already destined for Europe’s premier club competition next season, the Blues trail fifth-placed Liverpool by a single point as they kick off the weekend.
Information from PA was incorporated into this report.
