Despite defending the player's intentions, Pastore admitted that the former Benfica star made a tactical error in how he handled recent media engagements. At 25 years old, Fernandez is still considered a young player who is adjusting to the relentless scrutiny that comes with being a high-profile figure in the Premier League, especially during a turbulent season for the Blues.
"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," Pastore added.