Enzo Fernandez sat out for Chelsea’s FA Cup win over Port Vale (Image: Getty Images)
Enzo Fernandez remains suspended for Chelsea‘s Premier League match with Manchester City this weekend, with several matters still to be addressed ahead of his potential comeback next weekend. Liam Rosenior gave just a four-word answer when asked if the South American could return for the clash against Manchester United.
The Argentina international was absent from Saturday’s victory over Port Vale and will play no part in Sunday’s pivotal league fixture against Man City. Last week, Rosenior confirmed the club had suspended Fernandez following his remarks in which he flirted with a transfer to Real Madrid during the recent international break. Fernandez’s agent, Javier Pastore, subsequently described the decision to ban his client as « completely unfair » and more recently gave an interview in which he revealed the midfielder had apologised to everybody at the club.
Fernandez was present at Stamford Bridge for last weekend’s FA Cup victory over Port Vale, watching his side dismantle the League One strugglers from just behind the substitutes’ bench. The Argentine midfielder is expected to return to Chelsea for next weekend’s Premier League clash with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
When quizzed on whether the ‘hurdles’ could prevent Fernandez from featuring against Man United, Rosenior said: « Not in this moment. » Rosenior also brushed aside reports from overseas suggesting some Chelsea players took umbrage with Fernandez’s omission from the squad and raised the matter with the Chelsea head coach.
When asked whether he had received an apology, Rosenior said: « I’ve had a really good conversation myself, I had three or four with Enzo. He’s apologised to me, he’s apologised to the club, and we’ll deal with that after a massive game on Sunday. »
The Chelsea head coach went on to say: « It’s a serious meeting about something very serious. Enzo, I said in every single step along the way, I am not questioning who he is as a person.
« I believe people make mistakes and you can’t overstep the punishment for the mistake. I think we’ve made a sanction, we made a decision, I made a decision, and what I want for Enzo is for him to come on here and have an outstanding career.
Liam Rosenior confirmed Enzo Fernandez will miss out on Chelsea’s clash with Man City this weekend (Image: Getty)
« He won’t play on Sunday, but hopefully after that he will be a massive part of the group moving forward. There’s still a few hurdles that need to be overcome that I won’t go into, but at the same time I want every player really, really focused now on a huge run-in. »
Pressed on what he meant by the ‘hurdles that need to be overcome’, Rosenior remained coy: « No. There are still things in the air that I won’t speak about now. I have a very good relationship with Enzo, as all of us do, but there are still things that need to be cleared before I make a clear statement on the situation. »
Alongside Fernandez, Chelsea will be without Reece James, Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah, Jamie Gittens and Filip Jorgensen through injury. James has resumed running following his hamstring problem but the Blues captain still requires further time to recover.
Colwill, meanwhile, has returned to full training, though Chelsea are keen to manage his comeback carefully after the serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury he sustained in August.
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