'Still hurdles to overcome' despite Enzo Fernandez apology as Chelsea midfielder set to miss Manchester City clash - Liam Rosenior
Published 10/04/2026 at 14:43 GMT+1
React to this story
Liam Rosenior has confirmed that Enzo Fernandez will sit out Chelsea's game against Manchester City on Sunday. The midfielder's agent declared that there is "no conflict whatsoever" between the player and the club after the Argentina midfielder was punished for comments made during the international break which fuelled speculation his future may lie away from Stamford Bridge.
Highlights: Chelsea hit SEVEN past Port Vale to reach FA Cup semis
Video credit: TNT Sports
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior said there are "still hurdles to overcome" before Enzo Fernandez can return to action.
The Argentina midfielder was disciplined by his club after making comments to the press in which he talked up the possibility of joining Real Madrid and expressed an interest in living in the Spanish capital.
Rosenior revealed that Fernandez has since apologised, but reiterated the need to make an example of the player, who will not play in Sunday's Premier League game against Manchester City.
"You can't overstep the punishment for the mistake," the Chelsea boss said. "We've made a sanction, I made a decision. What I want for Enzo is for him to go on and have an outstanding career.
"He won't play on Sunday. But hopefully after that he'll be a massive part of the group moving forward. There are still a few hurdles to be overcome that I won't go into. I want every player really focused now on a huge run-in.
"Football is a team sport. It's not about individuals. There are certain values and cultures that I believe in that make the team stronger if you get them right.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/01/25/image-de8c580a-84e7-48f0-adb7-9ac340ed67db-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Chelsea 'model' is to blame for Fernandez comments - Carney
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I had a really good conversation - three or four with Enzo. He's apologised to me and to the club, and we'll deal with that after a massive game on Sunday.
"It's a serious meeting about something very serious. Enzo, every single step on the way, I've not been questioning his character, or who he is as a person. I believe people make mistakes."
Fernandez's agent Javier Pastore had earlier claimed that the player "made peace" with Chelsea following the incident, attempting to draw a line under the episode during an interview with French publication Top Mercato.
"We have already spoken about this over the past few days. These were comments he made with no intention of causing problems at Chelsea," former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Pastore said.
”He is the captain, one of the leaders of the team. He has shown his best side on the pitch this season. He only spoke about a city [Madrid]. Then there were many interviews in a short space of time where he talked about his future.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/04/03/image-c644ea13-94f4-48d2-a22b-036e8fdc369a-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
'A line was crossed' - Rosenior drops Fernandez over comments on Chelsea future
Video credit: SNTV
”The media mixed a lot of things together and started saying he was going to leave Chelsea. There is nothing at all to it."
Pastore had initially responded to his player being disciplined by describing the two-game punishment as "completely unfair" - but the 36-year-old struck a different tone as he provided the latest development.
”We are on the same wavelength with Chelsea," he continued. "We made peace yesterday and the day before between Chelsea and the player. There was never really a problem. We have cleared things up.
”What happened, happened. We explained to the player that, even if he did nothing wrong, he should not have said that.
”He is only 25 years old. He is still young and still has things to learn. We explained to the club that he said it without any malice and that he was wrong to do so.
”He naturally apologised to the club, his team-mates, the manager, the sporting director, everyone. We are all on the same page. It was simply a matter of clearing up a misunderstanding."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/04/03/image-eee8c345-8ee4-43ce-8840-e324ee86d159-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Rosenior: 'It's time for us to come together' after 'disappointing' Fernandez comments
Video credit: SNTV
It has been an unsavoury episode at a time when Chelsea have come under pressure following a run of poor results in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.
Fernandez featured in the 3-0 defeat at Everton in the club's last top-flight fixture, but will not be included in the squad against Pep Guardiola's men on Sunday.
Having provided an unwanted distraction to Chelsea's ambition of qualifying for the Champions League next season, Pastore believes it is in the best interest of all involved that his client returns to the field as quickly as possible.
"Enzo needs to play because he has a World Cup coming up," he added. "Chelsea need him because he is a key player in their team.
"We spoke, we sorted everything out on both sides. Things are perfectly clear. There is no conflict whatsoever.
"Enzo still has six years on his contract and we need to work together - that is what we are doing."
What did Fernandez and his agent say?
The 25-year-old fuelled speculation over his long-term future at Stamford Bridge, having continually been linked with a potential summer move to Real Madrid.
Doubts over his commitment to the Premier League club intensified in the aftermath of Chelsea’s heavy Champions League last-16 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Speaking to ESPN Argentina, Fernandez offered little clarity when asked whether he would remain at Stamford Bridge next season. "I don’t know," he said. ”My focus is here now. Then the World Cup coming up, so we’ll see after that."
Further intrigue followed when Fernandez spoke candidly to media personality Marcos Giles about his admiration for the Spanish capital. "I really like Madrid - similar to Buenos Aires," he said.
Pressed on whether he could imagine living there, Fernandez was unequivocal: "Yes, of course."
Taken together, his remarks were unlikely to quiet the growing sense that his future may lie away from west London - and Chelsea agreed to act by issuing the midfielder with a self-imposed two-game ban.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/03/11/image-048d82a0-5fb6-4750-9d8b-9a33e79604f5-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
‘Superb in his execution!’ – Fernandez slams home Chelsea equaliser after fabulous work from Neto
Video credit: TNT Sports
Speaking before the Port Vale encounter, head coach Rosenior said: "A line was crossed in terms of our culture. We had to make a sanction."
The decision to sideline the World Cup winner was then strongly contested by Pastore, who argued that Fernandez had shown full professionalism in accepting the club's decision, despite privately struggling to understand it.
- Robertson to leave Liverpool at end of the season
- Alisson ‘opens door’ to Liverpool exit, Madrid chase Olise - Euro Transfer News
”When the coach explained it, Enzo accepted it because he is a highly professional player who is fully committed wherever he is and respects decisions," Pastore said last week.
He also rejected any suggestion that the player’s earlier comments hinted at a desire to leave Chelsea.
”We don’t understand the punishment because he never mentioned any club or expressed a wish to leave,” Pastore explained.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/04/09/image-a191ab7a-bdfd-4854-b5d9-0f7691a5e4c9.jpeg)
Fernandez is still expected to miss the game against Manchester City
Image credit: Getty Images
”He was simply asked which European city he might like to live in one day and answered Madrid - for the language, the cultural similarities to Buenos Aires, and even the weather. It is a natural response for an Argentine. At no point did he say he wanted to leave Chelsea or London.”
Pastore said that discussions over a new contract had stalled, with negotiations failing to produce an agreement acceptable to either side. Talks, which began late last year, were ultimately paused due to differences over terms.
"With six years still remaining on his current deal, we decided not to renew under conditions that were not right for the player," Pastore continued. "Given Enzo’s level today, he deserves significantly more than he is earning.
"Rather than committing to terms that would leave the player dissatisfied, we felt it was wiser to focus on performances on the pitch and avoid unnecessary distractions."
Looking ahead, he indicated that Fernandez's future could again become a talking point.
"Our plan is to sit down with Chelsea again after the World Cup,” he said. ”If no agreement is reached, we will begin to explore other options."
Stream the Premier League, men’s and women’s FA Cups, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement