Liam Rosenior has not held back while discussing Enzo Fernandez and some of Chelsea’s other players in his pre-match press conference.
Chelsea face Aston Villa on Wednesday, and Rosenior is still disappointed following his side’s 2-1 loss to Arsenal at the weekend.
Chelsea picked up their ninth red card of the season after Pedro Neto’s dismissal, which seems to have been the final straw for the 41-year-old.
Who will get sent off next? 🔴
Something is telling me Andrey Santos! 🤷♂️
Chelsea players to have been sent off
Liam Rosenior warns Chelsea vice-captain Enzo Fernandez about dissent
When Rosenior first joined Chelsea, the former Strasbourg boss initially downplayed the team’s ill-discipline, putting it down to passion.
Rosenior did acknowledge that it is an area where they need to improve, and the Blues boss has said the same thing again, but this time he has name-checked the likes of Fernandez and Neto, though he was asked about them.
On Fernandez specifically when asked whether the midfielder has a dissent issue, Rosenior told football.london and other outlets: “Enzo is a top leader. It’s something that needs to improve. We are one of the youngest teams in Europe.
“Sometimes you need to go through experiences to improve. I don’t want it to be a learning experience where we fail to achieve what we want to achieve.”
The Argentine has not actually been sent off this season, but he has often found himself in the referee’s book.
Antonio Silva in action against Enzo Fernandez.
Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images
Enzo Fernandez’s disciplinary record this season
In the Premier League, Fernandez has picked up seven yellow cards, which sounds about right for a fiery midfielder like the 25-year-old.
How much would Enzo Fernandez cost if Chelsea tried to buy him today? 🤔 💰
A goalscoring midfielder is a rare commodity ⚽️
Jamie Carragher quote on Enzo Fernandez
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
In the Champions League, Fernandez has received another two, while he was also booked once in the Carabao Cup. That takes his total 10, but that number could be much lower had the Argentina international done less arguing with referees this season.
What really matters, though, is the number of goals Fernandez has scored. He has netted 11 times across all competitions and needs to maintain his current form if Chelsea are to have a successful campaign.
It is really tight at the top in the race for Champions League qualification. Fernandez can still help Chelsea to qualify, but only if he can continue to make an impact in the final third and help address this discipline problem in the squad as vice-captain, which means setting an example himself.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox