Update issued: Enzo Fernandez
Chelsea Football Newsletter
The Argentine was slapped with a two-match suspension by the club after seeming to posture for a move to Real Madrid during the March international break.
After Chelsea were dumped out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain, he gave several interviews in which he refused to commit his future to the club and discussed his desire to live in Madrid, which he claims reminds him of his home town Buenos Aires.
Responding to his comments last week, Rosenior said Fernandez had ‘crossed a line’ and declared him unavailable to face Port Vale and City as punishment.
But Fernandez’s agent revealed on Thursday that he had held peace talks with the club, leaving some wondering whether Rosenior might call off the suspension a week early.
And the Chelsea boss has confirmed Fernandez will remain sidelined for City’s visit, saying there are still ‘obstacles to get through’ between player and club.
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Rosenior said: “I had a really good chat with Enzo, three or four with him, he's apologised to me and the club. We'll deal with that after a massive game on Sunday. It's a serious meeting about something serious.
“I'm not questioning his character or who he is as a person but I believe people make mistakes and you can't overstep the punishment for the mistake.
“I made a decision. What I want for Enzo is for him to go on and have an amazing career. He won't play on Sunday.
“There are certain values and cultures that I believe in that make the club stronger if you get them right.
“There's a few obstacles we still need to get through but I won't go into that.”
Fernandez seemed to be in high spirits as he watched Chelsea’s FA Cup demolition of Port Vale from the bench.
Given his role as the club’s vice captain and the injury to Reece James, his suspension has left the club with something of a leadership vacuum at a crucial stage of the season as Chelsea push for Champions League qualification.