Enzo Fernandez will remain on the sidelines when Chelsea face Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday, with Liam Rosenior sticking by his punishment decision
Strasbourg's British head coach Liam Rosenior addresses media during a press conference at the Stade de la Meinau in Strasbourg, eastern France on January 6, 2026. Strasbourg coach Liam Rosenior announced on January 6, 2026 that he had reached a "verbal agreement" to join Chelsea. (Photo by ROMEO BOETZLE / AFP via Getty Images)
Strasbourg's British head coach Liam Rosenior addresses media during a press conference at the Stade de la Meinau in Strasbourg, eastern France on January 6, 2026. Strasbourg coach Liam Rosenior announced on January 6, 2026 that he had reached a "verbal agreement" to join Chelsea. (Photo by ROMEO BOETZLE / AFP via Getty Images)
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Liam Rosenior says there are still "a few obstacles" that he and Enzo Fernandez need to get over before he can be rehabilitated into the Chelsea team. Fernandez will sit out of Chelsea's Premier League game against Manchester City this weekend as punishment for his comments during the international break.
The Blues captain was left out of the squad which beat Port Vale 7-0 in the FA Cup on the weekend and Rosenior has now confirmed he won't return against City on Sunday afternoon. Fernandez turned heads by casting doubt on his future at Stamford Bridge, while also flirting with Real Madrid.
Rosenior said the Argentina international had "crossed the line" with his comments about loving to live in Spain. And the Chelsea manager has stuck by his original decision to leave him on the sidelines for two matches.
"I had a really good chat with Enzo, three or four with him, he's apologised to me and the club," he said in his pre-match press conference. "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."
Asked about Fernandez's return to the side, Rosenior added: "There's a few obstacles we still need to get through but I won't go into that."
Fernandez's agent, Javier Pastore, had criticised Chelsea for imposing the sanction on his client, but has now attended to build bridges with the club hierarchy. "He’s the captain, one of the team’s leaders, and he’s shown his best form on the pitch this season. He was simply talking about a city," he said to Top Mercato at a FedEx ‘Move Like a Pro’ event in Paris.
Enzo Fernandez
Enzo Fernandez won't play on Sunday(Image: PA)
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“Then there were a lot of interviews in a short period where he talked about his future. The media mixed things up and started saying he was going to leave Chelsea. There’s absolutely nothing to it.
“We’re on the same page with Chelsea. We made peace yesterday and the day before between Chelsea and the player. There were never really any problems. We cleared the air.”
Rosenior had initially stated: : "I spoke with Enzo. As part of the football club, he won't be available for tomorrow or Manchester City. It's disappointing to speak in that way. As a character and person, I have no bad words. But a line was crossed. We had to make a sanction."
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