Enzo Fernandez has told Liam Rosenior he is happy at Chelsea following comments made by the midfielder this week that he does not know whether he will be at Stamford Bridge next season.
The Argentina international cast doubt on his future when asked by a broadcaster in the immediate aftermath of Tuesday’s 3-0 home defeat to Paris St Germain.
He has five years to run on the contract he signed when joining for a then-British record fee of £107million in 2023 but hinted to ESPN that the final eight Premier League games of the season plus the remainder of Chelsea’s FA Cup run could be his last.
Enzo Fernandez has assured Liam Rosenior he is committed to Chelsea
Enzo Fernandez has assured Liam Rosenior he is committed to Chelsea(Jacob King/PA)
Rosenior said he spoke to Fernandez on Thursday and he has no concerns about the 25-year-old’s commitment.
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“I had a great conversation with Enzo at length this morning at the training ground,” he said. “Not just about the comments, but the future and how much we want to win the coming games.
“I would say he made it really clear to me how happy he is here, how much he wants to win for the team, and how passionate he is for this football club.
“He said also the translation and emotion got misconstrued. He is completely committed to this football club.”
Meanwhile, the club has identified the party responsible for leaking Rosenior’s team selections ahead of both Champions League games against PSG.
Liam Rosenior’s team selections for the PSG games were leaked
Liam Rosenior’s team selections for the PSG games were leaked(Ben Whitley/PA)
The Press Association understands it was not a member of the playing squad and the mole is considered to be external to the club.
“We know (who it was),” said Rosenior. “It’s not come from any place of malicious intent, to me or the team. We have dealt with the situation.”
Head coach Rosenior confirmed Trevoh Chalobah’s ankle injury sustained against PSG is not as bad as first feared but is likely to keep the defender out for six weeks.
The 26-year-old was stretchered off late in the game following a tackle from Achraf Hakimi and images appeared to show the joint badly twisted.
The hamstring injury sustained by Reece James ahead of Tuesday’s game is “not serious” according to Rosenior but the captain will miss Saturday’s trip to Everton.
Reece James will miss Chelsea’s game at Everton
Reece James will miss Chelsea’s game at Everton(Jacob King/PA)
“Reece we will look more after the international break,” said Rosenior. “It’s not serious but something in his hamstring we will monitor after the international break.”
Filip Jorgensen’s groin injury, however, will require surgery.
Rosenior said defender Mamadou Sarr, whose error led to a goal in the sixth minute on Tuesday that effectively killed the last-16 tie against the European champions, remains in his thinking after a difficult night.
“It’s a lot for all of us,” he said. “We are expected to achieve in the now. I am so excited for his career, that is why he is here.
“You have to go through negative experiences sometimes to improve. He is a massive part of our plans.”